Killing of Mohammad Bhar | |
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Part of the Gaza war and Gaza genocide | |
![]() Photo of Mohammad Bhar in his room | |
Location | Shuja'iyya, Gaza City, Gaza Strip |
Coordinates | 31°30′02″N 34°28′12″E / 31.50056°N 34.47000°E |
Date | 3 July 2024 |
Attack type | Dog attack |
Deaths | 1 |
Perpetrators | Israeli Ground Forces |
Mohammad Bhar (Arabic: محمد بهار; 2000 – July 2024) was a 24-year-old Palestinian man with Down syndrome and autism who died after being mauled by an Israeli Oketz military dog in a Gaza Strip house during the Israel–Hamas war.
Bhar, who had Down syndrome, autism, and speech difficulties, was unable to move without assistance from his family. According to his family, they had been displaced at least six times since the Israel–Hamas war erupted in late 2023. They stated that Israeli forces raided the house where they were besieged on 3 July 2024; the forces included a combat dog which mauled Bhar's arm and chest. Israeli forces then separated Bhar from them, giving assurances that he would be treated by a military doctor, and later forced them to leave the house. When the family returned to the house a week later, they found Bhar's bloodied, decaying body on the floor and a tourniquet on his arm. Israel later confirmed that the soldiers left Bhar in the apartment, saying they departed to help other injured soldiers.
Mohammad's killing provoked outrage on social media websites, and his family demanded an investigation into the incident. The BBC, which reported on the incident, was criticized for obscuring the Israeli military's role.