Gaza mothers fate uncertain after alleged Israeli detention and possible killing

Tahrir Abu Mady possesses her daughter Malak’s death certificate, but a list of prisoners suggests she may have been arrested. Her son, Yousef, is also missing. In southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, Tahrir lives in a partially destroyed home with charred walls and repaired sections. The house holds memories of her missing children.

Malak, 20 at the time of her disappearance, was a university student and volunteer nurse at Nasser Hospital. She returned to her family’s home briefly before Israeli ground forces advanced into Khan Younis in 2024. Forensic teams later found human remains inside the damaged property, leading to Malak’s death certificate being issued by Gaza’s Ministry of Health.

However, Yousef’s fate remains unknown. Recently released Palestinian detainees shared a list of prisoners held in Israeli custody, including Malak Abu Mady, with “No information available” next to her name. Tahrir expressed anxiety and restless thoughts due to the lack of information about her children. She attempted to hire a lawyer to track her daughter’s whereabouts within the Israeli prison system but was unable to afford the exorbitant fees.

Human rights groups warn that Malak’s case is not unique, as thousands of Palestinians from Gaza have been detained by Israeli forces over two years of the conflict. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor estimates around 3,000 people have been forcibly disappeared, with most cases involving unverified deaths and missing individuals due to a lack of information from Israeli authorities.

Families are often left in a state of suspended grief, unable to bury their dead properly or advocate for their imprisoned relatives. Tahrir now lives with two conflicting realities: her official death certificate and the name on the smuggled prisoner list. She writes a message on the scarred walls of her home: “We are still waiting for you, Malak … our white coat girl.”

Source: Al Jazeera