The Israeli occupation army continues to target civilians in Gaza, leaving their bodies in the streets, where they are at risk of being scavenged by stray dogs. Civil defence teams and medical crews are being obstructed from reaching and evacuating the bodies, in clear violation of international laws that protect the dignity of the dead.

The remains of martyrs have been found reduced to skeletal fragments after Israeli forces withdrew from areas such as Al-Zaytoun, Al-Shuja’iya, Tel Al-Hawa, Jabalia, Tel Al-Zaatar, Beit Hanoun, and parts of Khan Younis and Rafah. In some instances, stray dogs were witnessed feeding on the bodies.

International laws and conventions unequivocally grant legal protection to the dead, affirming the rights of their families to know their fate, collect information about them, and locate burial sites. Article 17 of the First Geneva Convention (1949) and Article 32 of its 1977 Additional Protocol explicitly underscore these rights, prohibiting the desecration, manipulation, or destruction of corpses.

The Geneva Conventions and related international laws call for respect for the deceased and mandate the dignified handling of their bodies. An urgent appeal is made to the International Red Cross and the World Health Organization to exert pressure on Israel to comply with these laws and permit relief teams to carry out their humanitarian duties.

Immediate action is called for to facilitate the recovery of bodies, uphold the dignity of the dead, and ensure that civil defence teams can safely continue their vital humanitarian work.