As part of the ongoing efforts by the Palestinian Center for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared to document cases of loss and enforced disappearance in the Gaza Strip, the case of Abdul Rahman Mahmoud Odeh stands out as a serious matter requiring an urgent investigation. There are strong indications that he was arrested and forcibly disappeared following his detention by Israeli forces, with continued ambiguity surrounding his fate and whereabouts.
Incident Details
Abdul Rahman Mahmoud Odeh, 25, a resident of Beit Lahia (Al-Rabat Mosque area), went missing on June 15, 2025. He was heading to the coastal area near the “Golden Hall” with his brother and a friend to collect humanitarian aid from relief trucks.
According to eyewitness accounts, the group was surrounded by Israeli tanks at the site. During the incident, his brother managed to flee and return, while their friend was killed. Abdul Rahman remained trapped before being arrested by Israeli forces along with several other civilians present at the scene.
Subsequent testimonies, including those from released detainees, stated that he was seen inside the “Sde Teiman” detention center. This reinforces the hypothesis of his detention, despite the lack of official confirmation.
Serious Concerns Regarding His Fate
In the absence of any official acknowledgment of his detention, the lack of his name in published detainee records, and the continued loss of contact, concerns are growing that he is being held in secret detention or subjected to enforced disappearance.
These fears are bolstered by eyewitness accounts of his arrest and subsequent reports of him being seen in a detention facility, while Israeli authorities refuse to provide any information regarding his fate or legal status.
Holding a civilian incommunicado, deprived of basic legal safeguards, constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law, necessitating the immediate disclosure of his fate and ensuring his protection.
Actions Taken
Following his disappearance, Abdul Rahman’s family contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which reported that there was no information about him in their detention records.
The family also sought help from “HaMoked – Center for the Defence of the Individual,” which submitted a tracing request but later confirmed that there was no official record of his detention.
In terms of legal efforts, the family appointed lawyers within Israel. On January 19, 2026, one of the lawyers secured a visitation date; however, Israeli authorities later informed him that there was no information or record pertaining to Abdul Rahman.
For its part, the Palestinian Center for Missing and Disappeared Persons has officially documented the case and submitted it to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to follow up on the case and demand disclosure of his fate. Despite these efforts, no decisive results have been reached as of the date of this statement.
Unknown Fate
The fate and whereabouts of Abdul Rahman Mahmoud Odeh remain unknown, given the lack of official recognition of his detention or allowing his family to communicate with him.
This case reflects a recurring pattern of detaining Palestinian civilians under conditions that lack minimum legal guarantees, calling for urgent international intervention to reveal his fate, ensure his protection, and hold those responsible for any violations accountable.
