Investigation reveals tragedy of disappearance of dozens of children in Gaza and rising numbers of missing under rubble

Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip are facing a worsening tragedy with the escalating numbers of missing children. Estimates from the Palestinian Center for Missing Persons indicate that approximately 2,700 children's bodies are still buried under the rubble of destroyed homes. In parallel with these shocking figures, about 200 other children are believed to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances related to forced displacement or proximity to contact points with occupation forces.

A recent journalistic investigation shed light on this phenomenon, presenting painful human stories of children who disappeared from displacement camps or while searching for food. This comes at a time when Hebrew media often ignores the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, giving these testimonies exceptional importance in documenting the suffering of civilians.

Among the cases documented by the investigation is the story of four-year-old Muhammad Ghabin, who went missing three weeks ago from his family's tent in Beit Lahia, north of the Strip. His mother told media sources that her child was playing in front of the tent before suddenly disappearing within just ten minutes, leaving no trace of his whereabouts.

Reports indicate that Muhammad's case is not isolated, as social media platforms and local groups in Gaza are filled with daily appeals from families searching for their missing children. Most of these children are between three and ten years old, which increases the danger of their situation amid the security and humanitarian chaos left by the ongoing aggression.

The disappearance of some children is directly linked to military operations, as a number of them went missing after approaching the Netzarim axis or aid distribution points. There are serious concerns that these children may have been subjected to direct gunfire or arrest by occupation forces that impose a strict siege on those areas.

In another story reflecting the extent of psychological trauma, ten-year-old Samer Abu Jameh disappeared near the city of Rafah last March. Samer was suffering from severe psychological disorders as a result of witnessing horrific killings during the war, which left him in a state of psychological withdrawal before his disappearance.

Samer's mother spoke bitterly about the absence of any information about her son's fate, noting that she constantly sees him in her dreams crying for help. The family affirmed its determination to continue the search despite the harsh conditions, calling on international bodies to intervene to find out if he is detained or injured.

On the ground, security agencies in Gaza denied the occurrence of organized kidnappings, attributing the disappearances to disorientation resulting from repeated displacement or family disputes. Local sources accused parties linked to the occupation of spreading rumors aimed at inciting panic and destabilizing internal stability in the displaced community.

The investigation revealed extortion methods practiced by the occupation, where the family of the child 'Zeina' was blackmailed by Israeli intelligence after their neighbors' house was bombed. An intelligence officer demanded the family provide security information in exchange for revealing the fate of their missing daughter, which the family categorically refused.

For its part, the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed that it is dealing with thousands of open requests for missing persons in Gaza, but its ability to act remains very limited. The occupation authorities obstruct the access of international teams to detainees or providing them with lists of names, leaving thousands of families in a state of constant anxiety about the fate of their children.

He always appears in my dreams crying. He is a part of my soul, and I will continue to search for him until my last breath to know what happened to him.