Israeli forces’ abduction of the body of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy and the Supreme Court’s approval: Full Story

2024-02-06 05:16:07

West Bank: After shooting dead a Palestinian boy, Israeli forces abducted his body. Defense for Children International (DCIP) said Israeli forces have taken away the body of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy killed by Israeli forces on Monday near Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank.

Israel showed this cruelty to the dead body of a boy named Wadee Shadee Saad Ilyan. At the same time, this is not the first time that Israel has taken away dead bodies

Defense for Children says. According to the organization, since June 2016, Israel has abducted the bodies of 28 Palestinian children. Only the bodies of 3 babies have been returned so far.

“Even in death, Palestinian children cannot rest in peace. Israeli authorities take away their bodies. The bodies of children are kept in their detention for an indefinite period without even giving their loved ones a last look,’ said Ayd Abu Iqtaish, director of the DCIP Accountability Program.

Supreme Court’s approval to transport the dead body

In September 2019, the Israeli Supreme Court approved this brutal action. On November 27, 2019, Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett ordered that the bodies of Palestinians accused of attacking Israeli citizens or soldiers be withheld and not returned to their families. Defense for Children International pointed out that Israel is the only country in the world that has such a policy of confiscating dead bodies.

First shot down, then shot again to kill

Wadi Shadi Saad Ilyan was shot dead by the Israeli army in Maale Adumi, an illegal Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem, around 12.30pm on Monday. When he was shot first, he ran after Vadeen for about five meters and fired again. After confirming that he was dead, the Israeli army took the body away.

Israeli forces shot and killed 14-year-old Wadea Shadi Sa’d Elayan today near Jerusalem then confiscated his body. Israeli forces are currently withholding 25 Palestinian children’s bodies from their families.

Read the news alert: pic.twitter.com/NhNN076Icr

— Defense for Children (@DCIPalestine) February 5, 2024

Then, at 3:30 am yesterday, Israeli intelligence officers summoned Wadee’s father to the Israeli military checkpoint known as Rachel Dom, north of Bethlehem. On arrival, he was informed that his son had been killed and that he would not agree to see or identify the body. Ayd Abu Iqtaish said Wadiyah grew up in an area where Israeli soldiers and settlers regularly resort to violence against Palestinians.

15 children have been murdered this year alone

Since the start of the Gaza war, Israel has killed 96 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank alone. In the span of 40 days this year, 15 Palestinian children were killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank. In 2023, 121 Palestinian children were killed, according to the DCIP report.

Of these, 103 children were directly shot dead. 13 children killed in drone attack Four children were killed by missiles fired from an Apache helicopter and one by an Israeli warplane. Under international law, intentional use of force against children is only recognized in situations where there is a direct threat to life or serious injury. However, the DCIP pointed out that the Israeli army does not follow any of these rules.

The Israeli brutality of abducting and withholding the bodies of Palestinians is a violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The provision stipulates that the parties should make arrangements for the dignified burial of the dead during the armed conflict.