Summary
On October 7, 2023, Israeli forces retrieved the body of an Israeli man named Ran Gvili from a graveyard in northern Gaza. During the operation, Israeli soldiers reportedly desecrated Palestinian graves and killed four Palestinians, prompting claims of international law violations. Israel stated these actions were to prevent Hamas from using the cemeteries for military purposes.
Key Facts
- Israeli forces retrieved Ran Gvili's body from a Palestinian cemetery in northern Gaza.
- The operation resulted in the reported desecration of graves and deaths of four Palestinians.
- Israel stated that Hamas was using the cemeteries for military purposes.
- Reports indicate that Israeli troops have desecrated at least 16 Palestinian cemeteries in Gaza by January 2024.
- Additional claims suggest attacks on Muslim and Christian cemeteries in Jerusalem, and that Israel holds Palestinian bodies from as far back as the 1967 war.
- The actions reportedly violate the Geneva Convention, which requires respect for the dead and their graves.
- Israel's Supreme Court has allowed the holding of Palestinian bodies for negotiations since 2019.
