20-year-old Palestinian student disappeared at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution site
Name(s):
Ahmed Sobhi Hussein al-Akhras
Status:
Forcibly disappeared
Year of birth:
2004
Profession:
Second-year student at al-Quds Open University, majoring in Information Technology
Nationality:
Palestinian
Date of arrest:
Ahmed al-Akhras was forcibly disappeared on June 21, 2025, after heading to an aid distribution point in the north of Rafah. On July 4, 2025, following an inquiry submitted by Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Israeli army stated that they had no information about him. His fate and whereabouts remain unknown.
Ahmed Sobhi Hussein al-Akhras is a 20-year-old Palestinian university student residing in Gaza.
On the evening of June 21, 2025, at approximately 5:00 p.m., he left his place of displacement and went to an aid distribution point operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation* on al-Teena Street in the Morag area, north of Rafah. When his mother learned about his departure about half an hour later, she tried to call him repeatedly to ask him to return. He responded around 6 p.m. and told her he was on his way back. His mother called him again 20 minutes later and all through the night until the next morning, but his number indicated an automated message, “the number you are trying to reach is unavailable.”
When he arrived at the aid distribution point, the site was already closed, and a heavy Israeli military presence was reported in the area. He subsequently disappeared, and all contact with him was lost.
According to other individuals who were present at the time of his disappearance, heavy gunfire erupted in the area around the time he disappeared. His family searched for him in hospitals and other locations he might have visited but were unable to locate him. It was also confirmed he was not listed among those killed at the distribution site.
On July 2, 2025, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights submitted an official inquiry via email to the Israeli army regarding his arrest and place of detention. Two days later, the Israeli army responded that they had no information about him. His fate and whereabouts currently remain unknown.
On July 15, 2025, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and MENA Rights Group submitted an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UN WGEID), urging them to intervene with the Israeli authorities to clarify Ahmed al-Akhras’ fate and whereabouts.
*The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is a U.S. and Israeli-backed organisation criticised by the UN and civil society organisations for operating military-controlled aid distribution sites where Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid have faced daily gun fires and mass casualties. Since the GHF started operating in May 2025 until July, over 700 Palestinians have been killed at the vicinity of GHF sites, and almost 4,000 have been injured.
| Name(s): |
Ahmed Sobhi Hussein al-Akhras
|
| Status: |
Forcibly disappeared
|
| Year of birth: |
2004
|
| Profession: |
Second-year student at al-Quds Open University, majoring in Information Technology
|
| Nationality: |
Palestinian
|
| Date of arrest: |
|
Ahmed Sobhi Hussein al-Akhras is a 20-year-old Palestinian university student residing in Gaza.
On the evening of June 21, 2025, at approximately 5:00 p.m., he left his place of displacement and went to an aid distribution point operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation* on al-Teena Street in the Morag area, north of Rafah. When his mother learned about his departure about half an hour later, she tried to call him repeatedly to ask him to return. He responded around 6 p.m. and told her he was on his way back. His mother called him again 20 minutes later and all through the night until the next morning, but his number indicated an automated message, “the number you are trying to reach is unavailable.”
When he arrived at the aid distribution point, the site was already closed, and a heavy Israeli military presence was reported in the area. He subsequently disappeared, and all contact with him was lost.
According to other individuals who were present at the time of his disappearance, heavy gunfire erupted in the area around the time he disappeared. His family searched for him in hospitals and other locations he might have visited but were unable to locate him. It was also confirmed he was not listed among those killed at the distribution site.
On July 2, 2025, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights submitted an official inquiry via email to the Israeli army regarding his arrest and place of detention. Two days later, the Israeli army responded that they had no information about him. His fate and whereabouts currently remain unknown.
On July 15, 2025, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and MENA Rights Group submitted an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UN WGEID), urging them to intervene with the Israeli authorities to clarify Ahmed al-Akhras’ fate and whereabouts.
*The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is a U.S. and Israeli-backed organisation criticised by the UN and civil society organisations for operating military-controlled aid distribution sites where Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid have faced daily gun fires and mass casualties. Since the GHF started operating in May 2025 until July, over 700 Palestinians have been killed at the vicinity of GHF sites, and almost 4,000 have been injured.
