14,000 missing in Gaza, including thousands detained by Israeli regime

The Centre for Political and Development Studies announced on Tuesday that the number of missing people in Gaza stands at more than 14,000 people, including 2-3,000 who have been disappeared by the Israeli Prison Service, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported. Little is known of their whereabouts within the occupation state’s prison system.

Most of those missing, said the centre, are believed to be under the rubble or in areas blocked by the Israel occupation forces.

According to the centre, the occupation forces impose restrictions that hinder the accurate documentation of the numbers of the missing, and prevents rescue teams from reaching the victims, which further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis. It called for international pressure on Israel to ensure that humanitarian teams can reach the affected areas, and for enhanced documentation through forensic and DNA testing equipment to identify victims.

There is also a need to establish an international coordination mechanism among human rights organisations, said the centre, to document violations and hold Israeli officials accountable. It affirmed the importance of providing psychological and social support to the families of the missing.

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