IDF rejects allegations of ‘enforced disappearances’ of Palestinians at Gaza aid distribution sites

The Israel Defense Forces rejects allegations by a group of United Nations experts of “enforced disappearances” of Palestinians at aid distribution sites in Gaza, saying the military lawfully detains individuals who approach aid compounds after hours or in ways that endanger its forces.

“The claim of the forced disappearance of Gaza residents in aid compounds is baseless and entirely unfounded,” reads the statement, released days after UN rights experts voiced alarm at reports of such incidents at distribution sites run by the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Seven independent experts said in a joint statement that they had received reports that several individuals, including one child, had been “forcibly disappeared” after going to GHF aid sites in southern Gaza, and that the IDF was reportedly “directly involved in the enforced disappearances of people seeking aid.”

The IDF Spokesperson’s Office responds that it “permits the [GHF] to operate independently and distribute aid to Gaza residents, and operates near the distribution zones to allow the distribution to take place alongside the IDF’s continued operational activity in the Strip,” and that within its activity, “suspects who arrive at the compound during hours when it is closed and approach the forces in a way that endangers them are detained and brought in for further questioning.”

“If the initial field questioning raises suspicion that a detainee has engaged in activity against our forces, the suspect is transferred for further interrogation in Israel,” it continues, adding, “Detainees for whom there is no justification for detention are released in the Gaza Strip, while those for whom grounds exist for continued detention, in accordance with the law, are brought before a judge and are entitled to legal representation as provided by law.”

“When minors are involved, this is taken into account, and they are treated with the required sensitivity and in accordance with the law,” the IDF adds.

The GHF said in response to the UN experts’ statement that there was “no evidence” of enforced disappearances at its aid sites. “We operate in a war zone where serious allegations exist against all parties operating outside our sites,” it noted.