As part of the ongoing efforts of the Palestinian Center for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared (PCMFD) to document cases of missing persons and enforced disappearances in the Gaza Strip, the case of 18-year-old Mohammed Rasheed Sha’at stands out as a deeply concerning matter. There are serious indicators that he may have been detained, forcibly disappeared, or directly targeted during Israeli military operations in Gaza City.
Incident Details
According to documentation provided by the family, Mohammed Rasheed Sha’at, a student and resident of the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, went missing on the afternoon of Friday, April 14, 2025.
The family reported that Mohammed left his home at approximately 3:00 PM, heading toward the Hammam al-Samra area. Communication with him was lost shortly after his departure. When the family attempted to call him around 7:00 PM, his mobile phone was turned off, and they have been unable to reach him or obtain any information regarding his fate since then. It is noted that the Shuja’iyya neighborhood, which Mohammed likely passed through, was experiencing active Israeli military presence and operations at that time.
Additional Data
Mohammed was carrying his mobile phone when he left, but all contact was severed that same day. No testimonies or information have surfaced to confirm his whereabouts after the moment of his disappearance. Furthermore, the family has been unable to find his name in any lists of martyrs or the injured across medical facilities or available records.
Indicators of Enforced Disappearance or Direct Targeting
The disappearance of Mohammed Sha’at in an area of active military operations, combined with the lack of official information regarding his fate or location and his absence from announced detainee lists or medical records, presents alarming indicators.
Given these facts, the possibility of his arrest—and subsequent enforced disappearance—or his being directly targeted during military operations cannot be ruled out. In either case, the continued ambiguity regarding his fate and the failure to disclose his location constitute a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, necessitating an urgent investigation to uncover the truth and ensure accountability.
Search and Follow-up Efforts
Following his disappearance, the family contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to inquire about his potential detention; however, they have received no information confirming he is in Israeli custody as of the date of this statement. The family also inquired through the human rights organization HaMoked, which stated that there are no records of his detention in Israeli systems.
The PCMFD has officially documented the case and submitted it to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) to follow up on the case and demand an immediate disclosure of his fate.
Unknown Fate
To this day, the fate of Mohammed Rasheed Sha’at remains unknown. His family lives in a constant state of anxiety and anticipation due to the total absence of official or humanitarian information regarding his location or legal status.
This case reflects a recurring pattern of Palestinian civilians disappearing during military operations, a situation that demands urgent international action to reveal the fate of the disappeared, ensure respect for International Humanitarian Law, and hold those responsible for arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance accountable.
