A growing body of disturbing evidence is driving renewed international calls for Israel to be investigated and prosecuted for war crimes, following allegations that its military and medical institutions have engaged in the illegal harvesting and trafficking of Palestinian organs—without consent. The charges, long dismissed as conspiracy theory by mainstream media, are now backed by reports from respected human rights organizations, medical witnesses, and findings by the European Parliament itself.
Palestinians in Gaza, enduring what the UN has described as a “hell on earth,” liken daily survival to a deadly game. “It’s like Squid Game,” said one mother. “A green light means you can get food. A red light means you get shot.” At aid distribution points, green lights signal civilians that they may approach—but those who step forward after the signal turns red are reportedly shot by Israeli snipers, turning hunger into a potential death sentence.
But the suffering doesn’t end there. Human rights monitors have documented deeply disturbing reports that dozens of bodies have been seized by Israeli forces and returned to families with missing organs. Gaza hospitals report receiving corpses missing corneas, cochleae, and vital organs. A coalition of Palestinian doctors and nurses has testified to widespread organ theft, and a major international rights organization has called for an independent tribunal to investigate.
Documented Cases of Organ Theft
These are not unsubstantiated rumors. In late 2023, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reported that Israeli forces had confiscated dozens of bodies from al-Shifa and Indonesian hospitals in northern Gaza. When some of these bodies were returned, medical professionals discovered missing livers, kidneys, hearts, corneas, and cochleae:
“Medical professionals reportedly found vital organs, such as livers, kidneys and hearts, alongside cochleas and corneas… were missing.”
— Euronews, November 27, 2023
Gaza’s Government Media Office made a similar claim in December 2023, stating that dozens of corpses returned by Israel were in various stages of decomposition, some rendered unrecognizable. They accused Israel of refusing to identify the bodies or reveal their point of origin:
“The occupation handed over unidentified bodies and refused to specify the names of these martyrs. It also refused to specify the places from which it stole them.”
— Palestine Chronicle, December 6, 2023
In early 2024, Press TV, citing Euro-Med, reported that some of the 80 bodies returned from Israeli custody had visible surgical incisions:
“Many cases revealed that organs were stolen from the bodies of these martyrs,” stated Gaza authorities.
— PressTV, January 1, 2024
Perhaps most chillingly, in April 2024, rescue workers uncovering mass graves near Nasser Hospital reported bodies showing clear surgical cuts inconsistent with standard Islamic burial practices:
“Some bodies displayed signs of surgical incisions inconsistent with local practices, fuelling concerns of organ harvesting.”
— TRT World, April 24, 2024
European Parliament Confirms Israel’s Role in Illicit Organ Trade
The European Parliament has taken these allegations seriously. In a formal analysis of the global black market for human organs, the EU identified Israel as one of the world’s key hubs for illicit organ trafficking, alongside Pakistan and the Philippines. This assessment was based on years of documented abuses, transplant tourism scandals, and lack of regulatory oversight.
Until 2008, Israeli brokers openly advertised organ transplants abroad. Poor Palestinian and migrant donors were paid around $10,000 per kidney, while brokers resold the organs for up to $160,000. These abuses were finally addressed with the Organ Transplantation Law of 2008, which criminalized transplant tourism and banned overseas funding for unregulated transplants. However, EU observers and rights organizations maintain that the illegal trade persists underground.
“Israel became a hub in the international organ trade over the past decade… exploitation continued despite reforms.”
— HumanTraffickingSearch.org / EU Parliament reports
A Market Driven by Ethno-Religious Demand
The problem is rooted in economics. Organ donation rates in Israel are extremely low—just 14%, compared to around 35% in Western countries—due in large part to religious customs discouraging organ removal after death. The result is massive demand for organs, particularly from non-Jewish sources.
“This isn’t random abuse,” says journalist C.J. Werleman. “This is systemic, demand-driven, and racially selective.” Palestinians, he argues, are dehumanized by Israeli policies and propaganda, making them vulnerable to exploitation even after death.
This structure mirrors China’s long-criticized use of organs from executed prisoners—especially Uyghur Muslims. Israel’s long-standing occupation, with over a million Palestinians imprisoned since 1967, offers similar access to vulnerable bodies.
Legal Impunity and Cultural Brutalization
Israel has never ratified the Fourth Geneva Convention, which mandates respect for the dignity of the dead and forbids the mutilation or looting of corpses. Nor has it signed the 2008 Istanbul Declaration, the global standard for fighting organ trafficking. Its refusal to adhere to these frameworks has drawn condemnation from international legal experts.
As the conflict intensifies, searches for “kidneys in Israel” and related terms have spiked on Google—suggesting a growing market interest in transplant services linked to the Gaza war.
“This is not just a rogue operation,” Werleman concludes. “This is a structured, protected, and profitable system that trades in human suffering.”
Time for Accountability
International calls for a formal investigation are growing. The facts are no longer deniable: Israel has a documented history of harvesting organs from Palestinians without consent, with recent evidence suggesting the practice continues today. If proven in court, these acts would constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“We are talking about a regime,” Werleman warns, “that respects neither law, nor humanity, nor even the dignity of the dead. It must not only be investigated—it must be dismantled.”
