The Israeli occupation forces have been deploying highly destructive and unconventional weapons during their ongoing genocide in Gaza, leading to the disappearance of victims' bodies and exacerbating the already dire medical crisis. According to reports from Gaza's medical professionals, these weapons, including vacuum and thermobaric bombs, are causing bodies to “evaporate,” leaving no trace behind.
Maher al-Shafei, the deputy head of the men’s surgery department at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, described the severity of injuries resulting from these attacks. He noted that among every ten martyrs, four are typically unaccounted for, with their bodies vanishing entirely. Injuries from these attacks include simultaneous fractures, burns, and mutilations, sometimes even resulting in organs missing from the victims’ bodies. The scale of the injuries is unprecedented, with over 107,000 citizens injured and more than 45,000 martyred since the violence began in October 2023.
The weapons used, including American-made "Mark" and "GBU" bombs, are known for their ability to reach temperatures of 7,000 to 9,000 degrees Celsius, causing extreme devastation. These weapons explode inside victims’ bodies, vaporizing them and reducing them to invisible fragments, while also obliterating residential buildings. The Palestinian Civil Defense has reported that these weapons are responsible for the disappearance of over 7,800 bodies, which never reached hospitals due to the severe damage.
In addition to the physical harm, the humanitarian situation is becoming more desperate. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, the only medical facility in central Gaza, is operating at three times its capacity, with insufficient space, oxygen, and medical supplies. Despite these shortages, medical staff continue to treat the influx of injured civilians, with up to 50 surgeries performed daily, compared to the usual weekly total of 40-50. The hospital has been subjected to bombing, both inside and around its premises, further complicating the already dire medical response.
International organizations, including the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, have raised alarm about the use of these internationally banned weapons, which violate international humanitarian law. These attacks, resulting in the vaporization of bodies and other horrifying injuries, constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Salah Abdel Ati, head of the International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (HAD), has called for accountability, warning that the global community must not remain silent in the face of such atrocities.
Human rights groups are demanding the formation of an international investigation into the use of these weapons by the Israeli occupation. The world must act to stop the genocide in Gaza and hold the perpetrators accountable for the war crimes they are committing, including the use of thermal and incendiary weapons against civilians in urban areas. The international community is urged to intervene and ensure that justice is served for the victims of this ongoing atrocity.
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