A serious issue happening in Israel! The Israeli government is keeping the bodies of dead children who have passed away recently. Let's dive in and learn more!
The Story of Ruqaya Abu Dohuk
Ruqaya Abu Dohuk, a 4-year-old girl who tragically lost her life. She was shot by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near Jerusalem. Instead of returning her body to her family, the soldiers kept it and performed an autopsy without permission. They didn't even explain why they did it. After 10 days of waiting, Ruqaya's family finally received her body and laid her to rest.
Israel's Policy of Detaining Bodies
Unfortunately, Ruqaya is not the only child whose body has been held by Israel. In fact, there are 25 children in total who have been kept in refrigerators and cemeteries for many years. This policy of detaining bodies has been going on since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967.
The Story of Khaled Hamidat
Another heartbreaking story is that of Khaled Hamidat, a 16-year-old boy who was killed by Israeli bullets. His body was also detained, leaving his family in a difficult situation. The soldiers even prevented medical teams from helping Khaled when he was still alive. It's a truly tragic situation for his family.
Reasons for Detaining Bodies
You might be wondering why Israel is doing this. Well, there are a few reasons. One is to punish Palestinians and create fear among them. Israel also wants to hide any evidence that might raise questions about how these children were killed. Additionally, by detaining the bodies, Israel makes it harder for Palestinians to seek justice and demand investigations into these deaths.
The Year of Child Extermination
According to Defense for Children International, 2023 was a devastating year for Palestinian children. They called it the "year of genocide" because Israel killed thousands of children in Gaza and the West Bank. They also mentioned that many children were arrested and detained by Israel during that year.
It's truly heartbreaking to hear about these children who lost their lives and the pain their families have to endure. We hope that one day, all children will be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of where they come from.
Source: Al Jazeera
