L. Killing, causing bodily harm, torture and abduction of foreign nationals in Israeli civilian communities

196. At least 68 foreign nationals were killed by armed groups and civilians from Gaza on 7 October 2023.¹ In Nir Oz, 19 Thai nationals, who were working for the agricultural team of the kibbutz, were living in the southern part of the kibbutz. Eleven of them were killed and five were abducted on 7 October. The Commission found that the Thai workers were attacked inside their living quarters and that most were killed in their rooms, while trying to hide from the attackers . The bodies of seven of the victims were filmed at 08:25 on the day of the attack. In the video, a voice speaking in Arabic can be heard, stating: “What an achievement! God is great. This is the path to Jerusalem.” A different video of the same incident identified by the Commission in social media shows four Palestinian men dressed in civilian clothes, who are speaking Arabic, approaching the room with the bodies. When themen enter the room, one of bodies on the floor appears to be moving and one of the attackers shoots at it from an automated rifle. The comments in Arabic and reactions overlayed on the footage indicate that the video was broadcast live on Facebook. The Commission analysed the footage and concludes on reasonable grounds that the victims were likely shot to death.

197. The Commission verified information indicating that at least one of the Thai workers in Nir Oz was subjected to an attempted decapitation as well as hacking upper body parts with a hoe while he was still alive.²

198. In kibbutz Alumim, 19 Thai and Nepalese nationals were killed by militants on 7 October, out of 41 foreign workers and agricultural exchange students living in the kibbutz. According to available information, on hearing the siren, the Thai and Nepalese nationals hid in different parts of the kibbutz, including a shelter and a kitchen. Twelve persons were hiding in a shelter when members of armed groups attacked it with grenades and later with gunfire. The attack continued despite some of the victims crying that they are Nepalese. One survivor stated in a filmed media interview that he hid in a shelter with other Nepalese from the programme. After one and a half hours they heard someone calling them to come out. Two of the group left the shelter and were shot dead. Shortly after, militants threw two gre nades inside the shelter. One grenade was thrown back out by a Nepalese studen; the other exploded. According to a media report, quoting survivor testimonies, the surviving group, many of whom were injured, then left the shelter and hid in a storage room of a nearby kitchen, adjacent to the cafeteria. They hid there for several hours until around noon, when militants entered their hiding place. Survivors said that militants shot in all directions, hitting all seven people who were hiding. Several of the people were killed from the shooting; others were extracted and killed outside. Militants then entered and took the Nepalese student survivor noted above, as well as three Thai farmers, and abducted all four to Gaza. The Nepalese student was later seen in footage released by Israeli Security Forces on 22 November, taken from the security camera at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza on 7 October. In the footage he is seen being pushed through the hospital corridors. A Thai student, also residing in Alumim, is also reportedly seen in the video lying on a stretcher.

199. A video, filmed by Israeli first responders and published on 9 October, shows 11 bodies in white body bags lying on the ground near the living quarters of the foreign workers in the kibbutz. As of May 2024, the Nepalese student is still being held captive in Gaza.

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Sources:

Footnotes

1. https://www.gov.il/en/departments/news/swords-of-iron-civilian-casualties ↩

2. See para 118 above. ↩