Gaza Toddler Allegedly Tortured in Israeli Detention, Family Claims
A 21-month-old toddler from Gaza was returned to his family with severe injuries that medical professionals have identified as consistent with torture and cigarette burns, following approximately ten hours in Israeli military detention, according to his family and medical reports. The incident has sparked serious allegations against the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), who have categorically denied the claims, instead asserting that the child was used as a human shield by a Hamas operative.
Details of the Alleged Incident
Jawad Abu Nassar, aged just 21 months, was taken alongside his father, Osama Abu Nassar, 25, near their home in the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza on the morning of 19 March. The father had reportedly been taking his son out to buy sweets ahead of the Muslim festival Eid al-Fitr. According to family members, they were heading towards the so-called Yellow Line, an invisible border dividing Israeli-designated military zones within the Gaza Strip.
Eyewitnesses described an Israeli quadcopter drone approaching Osama before he was seen putting Jawad down and walking towards soldiers while removing his clothes. The IDF stated that they identified a suspect approaching while holding an unidentified object, later confirmed to be the toddler. Despite repeated warnings to stop, the man continued walking, prompting soldiers to fire at the road as a warning, the IDF spokesperson claimed.
Medical Examination and Torture Allegations
Following Jawad's release from detention, his mother discovered what appeared to be severe burns around and behind his knees, along with a wound caused by a sharp object. When the family took him to hospital, doctors informed them that the injuries were consistent with signs of torture and cigarette burns. Dr Bisan Ahmed, an emergency room physician who examined the child a day after his release, produced a medical report identifying possible torture.
"I observed multiple deep, uniform lesions on his lower body, which are clinically consistent with deliberate cigarette burns used as a form of physical torture," Dr Ahmed told Sky News. The child's grandfather, Muhammed Husni Abu Nassar, reported that when he went to pick up Jawad from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the boy's trousers were covered in blood splotches, and he was unable to explain what had happened.
Israeli Defence Forces Response
The IDF has strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as unfounded. In their statement, they claimed that the child was brought by a Hamas operative into a dangerous area to be used as a human shield. They suggested that his injuries were likely caused by shrapnel from bullets fired by Israeli soldiers as a warning shot.
The IDF further stated that during questioning, Osama identified himself as a Hamas operative and admitted to entering Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre, allegedly bringing his toddler son to prevent harm if he approached IDF troops. They released footage showing a soldier handing the child over to the Red Cross, stating that his vitals were stable and he was walking, talking, and happy.
Ongoing Uncertainty and Family Anguish
Jawad's father, Osama, remains missing, and his family has not been informed whether he has been arrested by the Israeli army or what his condition is after being wounded. The IDF has not provided evidence to support their claim that Osama is a member of Hamas. The family has expressed deep distress, with Jawad's mother detailing the horrific discovery of his injuries.
"When I took his trousers off, I saw his legs. There were entry and exit wounds right here. It seems like they used a metal tool to pierce him. And they put out cigarettes on his little legs. We only realised the extent the next day," she told Sky News. The incident adds to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where reports of civilian casualties and alleged human rights violations continue to emerge amidst the conflict.
