Despite the present state of chaos in the Gaza Strip, which makes it very difficult for families to learn the fate of their loved ones – whether they were arrested, killed, or have fled their homes – on July 25, 2014, HaMoked was asked to trace two brothers from Khuza'a Village near Khan Yunis.
HaMoked immediately contacted the military control center to reveal the brothers' whereabouts, as required by law. The control center refused to handle the request on the claim that it was not obligated to provide information about detainees from the Gaza Strip. Explanations about the severity of the situation and the difficulties now facing the families and human rights organizations assisting detainees were to no avail; HaMoked's request remained unanswered. On the following day, July 26, 2014, the brothers were released from detention, having been held in detention for 48 hours, unbeknown to anyone, in an unknown location, in complete contradiction to the law.
Yesterday, July 27, 2014, HaMoked sent an
urgent letter to the military to demand that the control center provide pertinent responses to requests to trace Gaza detainees, while taking into consideration the limitations caused by the fighting. HaMoked stressed that the law does not cease to apply during warfare, and that it was unacceptable for the control center – charged with providing information about all Palestinian detainees held inside Israel – to disavow its duty when it was most needed. HaMoked added that any future refusal to respond to its detainee-tracing inquiries would compel it to appeal to the court.
