Chen Kugel

Chen Kugel
חן קוגל
Kugel in 2015
Born
חן קוגל

(1962-05-14)14 May 1962
Holon, Israel
OccupationPathologist

Chen Kugel (Hebrew: חן קוגל; born 14 May 1962) is an Israeli forensic pathologist, and chief pathologist of the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.

Early life

Kugel was born on 14 May 1962 in Holon, the son of Jehuda and Riwka (nee Roiter) Kugel, and the grandson of a former mayor of Holon, Chaim Kugel (de).[1][2][3]

Education and work

Kugel graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the Ben Gurion University in 1987.[citation needed] Between 1988 and 1992, he worked in various positions as a medical doctor in the Israeli military forces, while from 1992 to 1999 he worked in forensic medicine.[citation needed] In 2012 he was appointed chief pathologist at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.[4]

As head of the Forensic Institute, Kugel oversaw the investigation of bodies from the 7 October attacks, and was interviewed for various media outlets to discuss his findings.[5] For this work he was awarded the Israel Prize in March 2024.[6]

On 18 October 2024, following Yahya Sinwar's killing by the Israel Defense Forces, Kugel conducted an autopsy on Sinwar's body. He concluded that Sinwar died from a gunshot wound to the head, causing severe traumatic brain injury.[7]

Tom Hurndall

In the case of the killing of Tom Hurndall by Israeli soldier Taysir Hayb, the defence attempted to raise doubts as to what ultimately caused Hurndall's death. A military court was informed that Hurndall died of pneumonia. Chen Kugel, appearing for the defence, stated that the pneumonia had not been properly treated and "the large amounts of morphine" Hurndall was receiving contributed to his death.[8] The court rejected these claims.[9]

Israel–Hamas war and false claims of beheaded babies

During the Israel–Hamas war, Kugel in his role as Israel's chief forensic pathologist overseeing the investigation of October 7 bodies told The Economist that he had "seen the burnt, headless bodies of babies, although he could not say for certain whether they had been beheaded."[10]

In a piece in The Media Line focused on his work, Kugel again claimed that many of the bodies, including those of babies, were without heads. When asked if these had been decapitated, Kugel answered yes.[11] He added that it was difficult to determine whether they had been decapitated before or after death, or whether their heads had been "cut off by knife or blown off by RPG".[12][10]

However Haaretz, citing sources including Israel's National Insurance Institute, kibbutz leaders and the police, reported that one baby was killed on 7 October,[13] caused by a stray bullet in kibbutz Be'eri.[14] Haaretz concluded that any claims of beheaded babies were false.[13] In a detailed investigation Le Monde also concluded claims of beheaded babies were false.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Chaim Kugel, yadvashem.org
  2. ^ The Munkács Hebrew Gymnasium from yadvashem.org
  3. ^ Chen Kugel, über sich selbst, hebräisch, calcalist.co.il
  4. ^ "Hiss gets official replacement at forensic institute". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  5. ^ The biblical archaeologist finding the victims Hamas burned, Nov 5th 2023, Wendell Steavenson, The Economist
  6. ^ "Ministry of Health Congratulates Dr. Chen Kugel, Director of the Israel National Center of Forensic Medicine in the Ministry of Health on Winning the Israel Prize for Civilian Heroism". Ministry of Health of Israel. 21 March 2024.
  7. ^ Sangal, Kathleen Magramo, Christian Edwards, Tori B. Powell, Sophie Tanno, Aditi (18 October 2024). "October 18, 2024 news on the wars in the Middle East". CNN. Retrieved 19 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Farrago, Yonit; Farrell, Stephen (9 May 2005). "Israeli sniper blames British doctors for death of activist". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 6 January 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2006.
  9. ^ Simon Atkinson, "British peace activist was ‘intentionally killed’", The Guardian, 10 April 2006.
  10. ^ a b The biblical archaeologist finding the victims Hamas burned, Nov 5th 2023, Wendell Steavenson, The Economist
  11. ^ Poris, Aaron (19 October 2023). "Evidence on Display at Israel's Forensic Pathology Center Confirms Hamas' Atrocities". The Media Line. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  12. ^ Poris, Aaron (20 October 2023). "Hamas torture confirmed as Israeli forensics institute identifies victims". Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  13. ^ a b Hamas Committed Documented Atrocities. But a Few False Stories Feed the Deniers, Nir Hasson and Liza Rozovsky, Dec 4, 2023, Haaretz
  14. ^ Three generations wiped out by Hamas in Kibbutz Be’eri, Etgar Lefkovits, October 23, 2023, Jewish News Syndicate
  15. ^ "'40 beheaded babies': Deconstructing the rumor at the heart of the information battle between Israel and Hamas". Le Monde.fr. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.