The tragic deaths of disabled Palestinians at the hands of Israeli forces have drawn international condemnation and highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by individuals with disabilities in conflict zones.
Two recent cases exemplify Israeli brutality: Mohammed Bhar, a 24-year-old man with Down syndrome, and Ezz al-Din al-Banna, a 40-year-old man with paralysis. The widespread attention garnered by Bhar’s case has not only shed light on his own tragic circumstances but also reignited interest in al-Banna’s earlier death, highlighting a troubling trend of assaults on disabled people in the area.
Ezz al-Din al-Banna: A Life Cut Short
(Source: Middle East Eye)
Ezz al-Din al-Banna was arrested by Israeli soldiers in late November 2023 while seeking shelter in Gaza City. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down, he was brutally beaten and dragged by soldiers during his arrest, an act described by his cousin, Mohammed al-Banna, as devoid of any consideration for Ezz’s disability. Mohammed recounted that Ezz was taken away without his wheelchair, leaving him vulnerable and helpless.
The treatment Ezz received during his detention was horrific. Reports indicate that he sustained severe injuries from the beatings, which later led to complications and ultimately his death in February 2024. Fellow detainees reported that Ezz was treated cruelly upon his arrival at Ayalon prison, where he was dragged along the ground, exacerbating his injuries. Despite pleas for medical assistance, prison authorities denied treatment until his condition worsened significantly.
According to Zarif al-Ghurra, a disability rights advocate in Gaza who knew Ezz al-Din personally, Banna’s disability stemmed from an incident in 2007. The incident resulted in lower body paralysis, severely impacting his ability to perform fundamental physical tasks. Al-Ghurra recounted that Ezz al-Din had persistently sought to overcome his disability, frequently travelling to Turkey and Egypt for medical treatment. Tragically, al-Ghurra noted, Banna’s condition made him particularly vulnerable during the Israeli military action, leaving him defenseless against the occupation forces.
Prior to Israel’s military campaign against Gaza, the disabled population in the enclave comprised slightly more than two percent of its 2.3 million inhabitants. Data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) indicated that approximately one in every five Gaza households included at least one person with a disability.
The recent Israeli offensive has dramatically altered these statistics. Local human rights organizations estimate that the ongoing conflict has led to around 12,000 new cases of disability. This significant increase highlights the severe impact of the military action on the civilian population, particularly in terms of long-term physical impairments.
Mohammed Bhar: A Brutal Attack
(Source: Anadolu Ajansı)
In another harrowing incident, Mohammed Bhar, who had Down’s syndrome and autism, was fatally attacked by an Israeli army dog during a military raid in the Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza. This incident occurred on June 28, 2024, amid a week-long military operation that left his family trapped in their home. Witnesses, including his mother, Nabila Bhar, described the chaos and terror of the raid on the seventh day of the operation, when the dog mauled Mohammed, leaving him severely injured and bleeding.
It is reported that Mohammed, who could not speak any words, was out of horror voicing his emotions through words the family had never heard him speak before: “Wala wala! Khalas ya Habibi” (Hey you! Enough, my dear). It is this particular instance that has the entire internet in a chokehold.
(Source: Dawn)
(Source: Dawn)
Ignoring his visible wounds, armed assailants forced the family out of their home, abandoning Mohammed inside. As the family was forced to remain outside, they could hear Mohamed’s desperate pleas for water. His mother then recalled a chilling transition to silence. It was at this point, she said, that the family realized Mohamed had succumbed to his injuries. When they returned they found him dead, his body covered in blood.
The brutal attack on Mohamed by Israeli military dogs was not an isolated incident. In fact, such attacks have a disturbing precedent. A similar incident occurred in May of the previous year, when Israeli forces unleashed a dog on an elderly Palestinian woman, aged 70, during a military operation in Jabalia.
The systemic nature of these attacks was highlighted in a recent report by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, a Geneva-based organization. According to their findings released last month, the Israeli army routinely employs dogs in their raids on Palestinian homes. This report suggests that the use of military dogs against civilians is not a random occurrence, but rather a deliberate tactic employed by Israeli forces in their operations within Palestinian territories.
International Response and Human Rights Concerns
These incidents have sparked outrage and calls for accountability from various human rights organizations and activists worldwide. The treatment of disabled individuals in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza, raises critical questions about the adherence to international human rights standards and the protection of vulnerable populations during armed conflicts.
The United Nations has received numerous reports highlighting the ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian detainees, including those with disabilities. The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing military operations that have resulted in significant civilian casualties and injuries, with estimates suggesting that over 38,800 Palestinians have been killed since the escalation of violence began in October 2023.
As the international community continues to grapple with the implications of these events, the need for comprehensive investigations into the treatment of disabled individuals in conflict zones has never been more urgent. The tragic deaths of Ezz al-Din al-Banna and Mohammed Bhar serve as painful reminders of the human cost of conflict and the imperative to protect the most vulnerable among us.
