US universities accused of supplying donor bodies for Israeli military training
Al Jazeera investigation says cadavers donated for medical research were transferred to US Navy programs involving Israeli military teams without explicit consent
WASHINGTON (MNTV) — An Al Jazeera investigation has revealed that American universities supplied donated human bodies to US military programs that later used some of the cadavers to train Israeli military medical teams.
The investigation has revealed serious questions over consent, transparency and the unethical role of US institutions in supporting Israel’s military apparatus during the war on Gaza.
The investigation, published by AJ+ and Al Jazeera’s “The Take”, focused on agreements involving the University of Southern California and other academic institutions that reportedly transferred donated cadavers to the US Navy for trauma and surgical training exercises conducted in Los Angeles.
According to the report, some of the military trainees participating in the exercises were Israeli military medical personnel. Families of donors interviewed in the documentary said they had believed the bodies would be used strictly for civilian scientific research and medical education, not military programs connected to foreign armed forces.
The documentary said the arrangements were uncovered through investigations conducted by student journalists affiliated with Annenberg Media at the University of Southern California and the UCSD Guardian.
The reporters examined contracts and procurement documents showing that bodies donated through anatomical gift programs were transferred to the US Navy under agreements linked to medical training initiatives.
The revelations have sparked outrage among some donor families, particularly amid international scrutiny of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, where rights groups, humanitarian organizations and United Nations officials have repeatedly raised concerns over attacks on civilians, hospitals and medical workers.
One donor family featured in the documentary described feeling “betrayed” after discovering that the remains of their relative may have been used in military exercises involving Israeli personnel.
According to the investigation, relatives said consent forms did not clearly explain that bodies could be transferred to military programs or used in training connected to foreign armed forces.
The documentary highlighted the case of Jeanette Volpin, a 101-year-old donor whose daughter reportedly said she was shocked and angered after learning how the body may have been used. The report argued that many families had donated remains believing they would contribute to peaceful scientific advancement rather than military preparation.
AJ+ presenter Dena Takruri said the investigation exposed hidden links between American academic institutions and Israeli military systems at a time when Israel’s war on Gaza has generated widespread international condemnation.
The documentary suggested that many Americans remain unaware of how domestic institutions may be connected to overseas military structures and conflicts.
The report also questioned whether universities adequately informed donors about third-party transfers and military uses of donated remains.
Researchers and medical ethics experts interviewed in the documentary argued that informed consent standards may have been undermined if donors were not clearly told their bodies could be used in military training scenarios.
The investigation comes during continuing criticism of Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been killed and large parts of the territory devastated during months of bombardment and siege.
Medical workers and humanitarian organizations have accused Israeli forces of repeatedly targeting hospitals, ambulances and healthcare infrastructure throughout the conflict.
A physician interviewed in the documentary reportedly criticized the continuation of military medical cooperation programs involving Israeli teams while Gaza’s healthcare system faces near collapse under Israeli attacks.
The documentary noted accusations that medical facilities and healthcare personnel in Gaza have increasingly come under fire during the war.
The University of Southern California defended the anatomical donation program, saying its mission is to support medical education and healthcare for all people regardless of nationality or political affiliation. However, critics argued the issue was not nationality itself but the lack of transparency surrounding military use of donated remains.
The documentary further revealed that some universities modified public information and FAQ sections only after scrutiny intensified following publication of the student investigations.
The revelations have intensified debate over the ethics of body donation programs in the United States and whether stricter oversight is needed to ensure donor wishes are respected.
Human rights advocates said the controversy also reflects growing public concern over American institutional links to Israeli military operations during the Gaza war.
The Al Jazeera documentary framed the issue as part of a broader pattern of hidden cooperation between US institutions and Israeli military systems, arguing that public accountability and informed consent remain central unresolved questions in the case.
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