By 
20-07-2024
Team Middle East Researcher
Asuman Ece Yildiz
Global Human Rights Defence
Shejaiya, Gaza – On July 7th, a tragic incident unfolded amidst the ongoing conflict between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas fighters. Muhammed Bhar, a 24-year-old man with Down syndrome, succumbed to his injuries after being attacked by a military dog during an IDF raid.
On June 27th, Israeli troops launched a raid on Shujaiya, supported by intense airstrikes. For the following two weeks, they persistently bombed the heavily populated area, storming houses and forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee (Middle East Eye, 2024). The Bhar family could not move from the building because they had been repeatedly displaced, moving 15 times since the beginning of the conflict due to relentless bombings. Nabila, Muhammed’s mother, recounted the harrowing experience of constant evacuations: “We evacuated around 15 times. We would go to Jibreel’s place, but then there would be a bombing at Jibreel’s place. We would go to Haydar Square, but then there would be a bombing at Haydar Square. We would go to Rimal, but then there would be a bombing at Rimal. We would go to Shawa Square, but there would be a bombing at Shawa Square (BBC, 2024).
On July 7th, the IDF advanced into their neighbourhood, forcing the family to evacuate yet again. Despite Nabila’s pleas to keep the dog away from Muhammed due to his disability, the soldiers did not heed her warnings. The dog attacked Muhammed, biting his chest and arm. Muhammed, distressed and terrified, could only cry out, “no, no, no” (BBC, 2024). “I wanted to get to him, but I couldn’t. No one could get to him, and he was patting the dog’s head saying, ‘enough my dear enough.’ In the end, he relaxed his hand, and the dog started tearing at him while he was bleeding,” Nabila recounted through tears.
The soldiers eventually moved Muhammed to another room to administer basic first aid and instructed the family to leave, promising medical treatment. Hours later, the family was forcibly evacuated at gunpoint, leaving Muhammed behind. His two brothers were arrested, and the rest of the family found shelter in a bombed-out building (BBC, 2024).
A week later, the family returned to find Muhammed’s lifeless body. His brother described the scene, stating that “they were trying to stop the bleeding. Then they left him without stitches or care. Just these basic first aid measures. Of course, as you can see, Muhammed was dead for a period of time already because he was abandoned” (BBC, 2024).
The exact cause of Muhammed’s death remains unclear, but it is evident that he was left alone while still bleeding. The Israeli army confirmed that soldiers provided basic treatment but had to leave due to urgent needs in other areas (BBC, 2024).
Nabila is haunted by the image of her son’s final moments. “This scene I will never forget… I constantly see the dog tearing at him and his hand, and the blood pouring from his hand… It is always in front of my eyes, never leaving me for a moment. We couldn’t save him, neither from them nor from the dog” (BBC, 2024). She added that “he was like a one-year-old. I used to feed him and change his diaper. I cannot bear to think of what they did to him or how they left him to die like this. There is no Muhammed” (Middle East Eye, 2024).
Israel’s responsibility regarding the wounded and sick
The tragic death of Muhammed Bhar, who Israeli soldiers left behind after a dog attack, starkly violates several key provisions of international humanitarian law. Geneva Convention IV, Article 16, mandates the protection and respect for the wounded and sick, which includes civilians like Muhammed.
Furthermore, Geneva Convention I, Article 12, requires that the wounded and sick be respected and protected in all circumstances, ensuring they receive appropriate medical care. Article 15 of the same convention obligates parties to the conflict to search for, collect, and care for the wounded without delay, a duty clearly neglected when Muhammed was abandoned after only basic first aid. Additionally, as outlined by the Red Cross, Customary International Humanitarian Law Rule 110 reinforces these obligations, emphasising the need for continuous medical care and respectful handling of the wounded and deceased. The failure of the IDF to adhere to these principles by leaving Muhammed untreated led to his death, representing a serious breach of these fundamental humanitarian laws, triggering international criminal responsibility.
Sources and further readings
BBC News. (2024, July 16). Gaza man with Down’s syndrome attacked by IDF dog and left to die, mother says. Accessed 20/07/24 from <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9drj14e0lo>.
Middle East Eye. (2024, July 12). Gaza: Palestinian with Down syndrome ‘left to die’ by Israeli soldiers after combat dog attack. Accessed 20/07/24 from <https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-palestinian-down-syndrome-left-die-israeli-soldiers-after-combat-dog-attack>.
International Committee of the Red Cross. (1949). Geneva Convention (I) on Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field – Article 15. Accessed 20/07/24 from <https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gci-1949/article-15#:~:text=Evacuation%20At%20all%20times%2C%20and%20particularly%20after%20an,for%20the%20dead%20and%20prevent%20their%20being%20despoiled>.
International Committee of the Red Cross. (1949). Geneva Convention (I) on Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field – Article 12. Accessed 20/07/24 from<https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gci-1949/article-12?activeTab=undefined>.
International Committee of the Red Cross. (1949). Geneva Convention (IV) on Civilians – Article 16. Accessed 20/07/24 from <https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gciv-1949/article-16#:~:text=Article%2016%20-%20Wounded%20and%20sick%20I.%20General,be%20the%20object%20of%20particular%20protection%20and%20respect>.
International Committee of the Red Cross. (n.d.). Customary IHL – Rule 110. Treatment and Care of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked. Accessed 20/07/24 from <https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v1/rule110>.
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