As part of ongoing efforts by the Palestinian Center for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared (PCMFD) to document cases of loss and enforced disappearance in the Gaza Strip, the center has documented the case of Nevin Mu’in Abu Dahir. Her case carries strong, direct indications of either direct targeting or enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention.
According to information and testimony documented by the center under direct authorization from the missing woman’s family representative, Nevin Mu’in Abu Dahir, who was 43 years old at the time of the incident, went missing on December 13, 2023.
Details and Circumstances of the Disappearance
Based on available documentation, Nevin Abu Dahir left her location in the “Tal al-Sultan” area of Rafah on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, heading toward her home in the “Al-Salam” neighborhood.
Along the route between Tal al-Sultan and Al-Salam in Rafah, all communication with her was completely lost, and she never reached her destination. Since that moment, her family has received no information regarding her fate or whereabouts.
Compounding the severity of this case, Nevin Abu Dahir is in critical health, suffering from the lingering effects of a previous stroke and requiring specialized care.
Search Efforts and Actions Taken
Following her disappearance, the family pursued all available avenues to locate her. On December 15, 2023, they submitted official reports to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and contacted the Addameer Association for Human Rights. However, the family was informed that Israeli authorities held no official records regarding her fate or detention status as of that date.
The family also notified the Criminal Investigation Department at the Emirati Red Crescent Hospital. Authorities noted heavy bombardment in the area at the time and suggested she may have been killed; however, no body or physical evidence was ever recovered, leaving her fate unknown.
Acting on the direct authorization provided by the family, the PCMFD submitted an urgent official report to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) in Geneva. The center urges international mechanisms to exert serious pressure on Israeli authorities to investigate the circumstances of her disappearance, immediately disclose her location or fate, and end the secrecy surrounding her case.
Unknown Fate and Urgent Appeal
To date, Nevin Abu Dahir remains forcibly disappeared. Her family and the center urgently appeal to all human rights organizations, international bodies, and UN committees to intervene, apply pressure to locate her, and ensure she receives necessary medical care. This case exemplifies the compounded suffering of civilians and medical patients subjected to enforced disappearance, demanding decisive international action to end the policy of denial and guarantee the right to know the truth.
