As part of the ongoing efforts by the Palestinian Center for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared to document cases of loss and forcibly disappearance in the Gaza Strip, the Center documents the case of citizen Ibrahim Taha Oweis as one of the cases that carry strong indicators of his arrest and forcibly disappearance by the Israeli occupation forces while he was in the southern Gaza Strip.
According to the information and documents verified by the Center, citizen Ibrahim Taha Oweis went missing on Sunday, August 11, 2024. He was born on November 12, 2001, and holds national ID number 407853464. Originally a resident of Gaza (Shuja’iyya – extension of Mushtaha Street), he was displaced in Khan Younis (Asdaa City) and works as an engineer.
According to his family’s statement, Ibrahim left his place of displacement located at the western gate of Asdaa City at around twelve o’clock in the afternoon for a walk. Since that time, all news of Ibrahim has been cut off and he has not returned to his home, and his family has been unable to make any contact with him.
It is noted that he was not carrying a mobile phone or personal identification documents at the time he went out. Furthermore, he suffers from partial paralysis due to a previous injury he sustained three months before his disappearance.
Indicators of Forcibly Disappearance The absence of Ibrahim Oweis and the lack of his name on the lists of names declared inside the prisons raise suspicions of forcibly disappearance or direct killing. However, an important recent development occurred in the case; a released detainee reported hearing the name of citizen Ibrahim Oweis inside the Israeli “Ofer” prison. The continuous withholding of information by the Israeli authorities regarding the missing from their families and legal authorities represents a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
Search and Follow-up Attempts Following Ibrahim’s disappearance, his family rushed to take the available measures; they contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which stated that the Israeli authorities had not provided any information about him. The family also contacted the “Addameer” Foundation for Human Rights without receiving any response, in addition to contacting lawyers inside Israel who confirmed that no information was available regarding his detention.
Unknown Fate Until today, the fate of Ibrahim Taha Oweis remains shrouded in official ambiguity and institutional denial. The Palestinian Center for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared and the family of the missing person appeal to all UN bodies, the International Red Cross, and human rights organizations to intervene immediately to save his life, ensure the provision of legal protection for him, and end the continuous suffering of his family.
