nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in MENA, a new report reveals details about a mass–grave site in the North Sinai region, seemingly created and hidden by the Egyptian military. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include Iran’s increased deportations, archeologists’ attempts to save Palestinian artifacts, and Egypt’s recovery of ancient artifacts.
A new report by the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, with technical support from Forensic Architecture, identified a mass grave in North Sinai that appears to be closely tied to Egypt’s military operations during a decade–long war. According to the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, the report documents the Egyptian military’s large–scale extrajudicial killings, secret burials, and disappearances of civilians in North Sinai. The forensic findings of the mass–grave site include at least 36 visible skulls and an expected 300 bodies buried in two connected pits. These bodies appeared to be buried without any regard for local customs, and there were notably no military clothes or equipment found in the graves. Some of the bodies had blindfolds, which could indicate that they were extrajudicial killings.
Notably, the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights stated that it formally approached the Egyptian government, offering to forgo this investigation if the Egyptian government would authorize an impartial, independent fact–finding committee. No such committee has been established.
Satellite data appears to connect a heavy military presence to the mass–grave site from 2013–2022, coinciding with the Egyptian military’s presence in the North Sinai region as part of the decade–long war with ISIS militants. The data includes what appears to be military vehicle tracks and the establishment of military outposts by the site.
These findings coincide with witness testimonies that the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights has collected, including reports from area residents of family members getting arrested and disappearing despite being civilians. One witness claims to have seen Egyptian soldiers execute 15 people, put weapons next to their dead bodies, and then announce that they had killed 15 terrorists. Other witnesses shared the names and dates of executions of people who were not militants, but were suspected of collaborating with them. These people had been executed without legal proceedings or, according to the witnesses, substantial evidence of their collaboration.
Following this report, nine Egyptian human rights organizations are calling for the United Nations Human Rights Council to oppose Egypt’s bid for council membership to the UN Human Rights Council in the upcoming October elections.
Human rights organizations have long been documenting ongoing events in the North Sinai region. The human rights violations documented include the killings, thousands of disappearances and detentions, destruction of homes and schools, and forced evictions.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from MENA:
- Iran is conducting daily raids, deporting thousands of Afghans whose country cannot support them.
- After news of an incoming Israeli strike, archeologists evacuated precious artifacts from a storehouse that made up the last substantial repository of artifacts in Palestine.
- Egypt lifted artifacts out of Alexandria’s sea that date back over 2,000 years.
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Mass–grave site seemingly tied to Egyptian military
Photo by Youhana Nassif on Unsplash
October 3, 2025
Diplomatic Courier’s Stephanie Gull brings you weekly under–the–radar stories from around the world. This week in MENA: newly uncovered evidence of mass, extra–judicial killings by Egypt’s military in North Sinai.
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nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in MENA, a new report reveals details about a mass–grave site in the North Sinai region, seemingly created and hidden by the Egyptian military. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include Iran’s increased deportations, archeologists’ attempts to save Palestinian artifacts, and Egypt’s recovery of ancient artifacts.
A new report by the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, with technical support from Forensic Architecture, identified a mass grave in North Sinai that appears to be closely tied to Egypt’s military operations during a decade–long war. According to the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, the report documents the Egyptian military’s large–scale extrajudicial killings, secret burials, and disappearances of civilians in North Sinai. The forensic findings of the mass–grave site include at least 36 visible skulls and an expected 300 bodies buried in two connected pits. These bodies appeared to be buried without any regard for local customs, and there were notably no military clothes or equipment found in the graves. Some of the bodies had blindfolds, which could indicate that they were extrajudicial killings.
Notably, the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights stated that it formally approached the Egyptian government, offering to forgo this investigation if the Egyptian government would authorize an impartial, independent fact–finding committee. No such committee has been established.
Satellite data appears to connect a heavy military presence to the mass–grave site from 2013–2022, coinciding with the Egyptian military’s presence in the North Sinai region as part of the decade–long war with ISIS militants. The data includes what appears to be military vehicle tracks and the establishment of military outposts by the site.
These findings coincide with witness testimonies that the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights has collected, including reports from area residents of family members getting arrested and disappearing despite being civilians. One witness claims to have seen Egyptian soldiers execute 15 people, put weapons next to their dead bodies, and then announce that they had killed 15 terrorists. Other witnesses shared the names and dates of executions of people who were not militants, but were suspected of collaborating with them. These people had been executed without legal proceedings or, according to the witnesses, substantial evidence of their collaboration.
Following this report, nine Egyptian human rights organizations are calling for the United Nations Human Rights Council to oppose Egypt’s bid for council membership to the UN Human Rights Council in the upcoming October elections.
Human rights organizations have long been documenting ongoing events in the North Sinai region. The human rights violations documented include the killings, thousands of disappearances and detentions, destruction of homes and schools, and forced evictions.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from MENA:
- Iran is conducting daily raids, deporting thousands of Afghans whose country cannot support them.
- After news of an incoming Israeli strike, archeologists evacuated precious artifacts from a storehouse that made up the last substantial repository of artifacts in Palestine.
- Egypt lifted artifacts out of Alexandria’s sea that date back over 2,000 years.
