Echoes of a Dark Past: Unravelling the Mystery of Palestinian Child Abductions in Palestine and Occupied Palestine

The image appears to be a collage of several photographs related to the Yemenite Children Affair, a series of events involving the disappearance of babies and children of Yemenite families in Israel during the early years of the Israeli state. The collage includes both black and white as well as color photographs, which suggests a historical overview that spans several decades. There are images of families, individual portraits, and older pictures that may date back to the time of immigration. Some photos depict elderly individuals, possibly survivors or relatives of those who were directly affected by the events. Additionally, there are photos within photos, indicating the importance of memory and documentation to those featured or related to the affair.

Ilias Achkaoukaou

News - 06 January 2024 - 4 min

In a deeply troubling development, the fate of numerous Palestinian children, including a baby, remains shrouded in mystery following their forced removal by the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip. This incident is not an isolated event but a continuation of Israel's long and dark history of child abductions, a practice that dates to the early days of the nation.

Euro-Med Monitor has accused the Israeli army of abducting Palestinian children as part of a brutal genocide campaign against the Gazans, a campaign that has been raging since October 7th. A case in point is the shocking revelation involving Officer Harel Itach, a commander in the Givati Brigade (Fate baby and other Palestinian children unknown after israeli army forcibly transfers them out Gaza Strip, 2024). Itach allegedly abducted an infant from her home in the Gaza Strip. This heinous act came to light through the confession of Itach's brother and corroborated by a friend of Itach. Despite this revelation, the whereabouts of the infant remain unknown. Euro-Med Monitor has expressed grave concerns, suggesting that this is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic practice. Numerous testimonies have surfaced, alleging regular detentions and transfers of Palestinian children by the Israeli army, with their fates remaining undisclosed.

This recent atrocity echoes a haunting episode from Israel's past, known as the Yemenite affair, which occurred in the 1950s. During this period, thousands of babies and toddlers vanished under mysterious circumstances. These children, belonging to families of immigrants housed in transit and absorption camps, primarily came from Yemenite backgrounds. Shockingly, every eighth child from a Yemenite family went missing. Other affected families included those from various Mizrahi backgrounds – Tunisian, Moroccan, Libyan, Iraqi, and others – as well as some from the Balkans (The Yemenite affair (the kidnappings), n.d.).

The pattern was disturbingly similar in most cases. Parents were coerced or forced to hand over their children to nurseries or hospitals, allegedly for better care. In a matter of days, these parents were informed of their child's death, yet they were denied any opportunity to see the body or were provided with a death certificate much later, under suspicious circumstances. A few children were eventually returned to their families, but the fate of the majority remains a mystery.

The response from the state to these incidents has been lackluster and evasive. It was only after years of relentless criticism and demands for transparency that an official investigative committee was established in the late 1990s. The findings of this committee, released in 2001, did little to shed light on the truth, further exacerbated by a gag order placed on the committee’s materials, valid until 2066. This has only deepened the anguish and resentment among the families of the missing children.

Adding to the gravity of these events is the unsettling fact that Israel possesses the largest skin bank in the world. This is particularly controversial given that the Jewish religion, predominantly practiced in Israel, forbids organ donation. This raises alarming questions about the origins and methods of acquiring such a vast resource, casting a shadow over the ethical practices of the nation.

As Israel grapples with its present actions and its past, the international community watches with apprehension, hoping for justice and closure for the families of the missing children. The complete story behind Israel's largest skin bank, and the potential links to these abductions, remains an enigma, one that demands further investigation and scrutiny. For more insights into this harrowing saga, follow the detailed report available at the provided link.

https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/fate-baby-and-other-palestinian-children-unknown-after-israeli-army-forcibly-transfers-them-out-gaza-strip-enar

https://www.edut-amram.org/en/the-kidnappings/