LONDON, 12 Nov. - (ANA) - The mutilated bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel show signs of expert organ removal, likely for organ harvesting, renowned British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah has said.

 

Speaking to Al Jazeera earlier this week, Abu Sittah shared his professional opinion on images of the deceased Palestinians shown to him by the Qatar-based news outlet.

 

"The first observation is that, in all the bodies that organs were harvested or removed are those that are now routinely transplanted: the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and corneas," Abu Sittah, who spent more than a month working in Gaza's hospitals during the war, said.

 

The plastic and reconstructive surgeon added that the precision with which the organs were removed indicated a professional hand.

 

"The method of extraction - the rib cage and ribs were clipped with a sharp saw - a medical saw, a bone saw - and the sternum, along with the central part of the ribs, was lifted to allow for the removal of the heart and lungs without damage to the organs being taken," he said, noting that the skin of all the victims appeared to be burnt by liquid nitrogen - a chemical used to preserve tissue.

 

"The essential point is there was no damage to the remaining organs, meaning the extraction was carried out surgically by an experienced surgeon."

 

Chillingly, Abu Sittah cited multiple testimonies from witnesses who said that the victims were alive at the time of extraction.

 

The bodies returned by Israel were those of Palestinians abducted or killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. The bodies were handed back to the Palestinians as part of the US-brokered ceasefire deal.

 

In October, at least 135 bodies were returned to the Gaza Strip by Israel, bearing signs of torture and mutilation

 

One body, that of Palestinian detainee Mahmoud Ismail Shabat, 34, from north Gaza, showed that his legs were crushed by tank tracks as well as marks of hanging around his neck.

 

Dozens of other bodies showed visible signs of torture, including hands tied behind the backs of the victims, as well as ropes around their necks.

 

As early as December 2023 - two months into Israel's genocide in Gaza - Palestinian authorities had raised the alarm about the potential harvesting of organs by Israel.

 

Medics reported bodies being returned with significant mutilations, including organs missing.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/12 November 2025 - - -