The remains of about 100 people found in the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli attacks have been buried in mass graves in Gaza. Reports say 60 children are among the dead. The remains were recovered after weeks of searching through collapsed buildings in the Zeitoun area of Gaza City. Family members brought the remains from Zeitoun to the Al-Mamadani cemetery in central Gaza City for burial. Most of those killed belonged to the prominent Malaka family in the region, with authorities saying the family alone lost 55 people.
Many families were able to identify the remains of their loved ones only after several days and then buried them according to Islamic rites. Local media reported that what was recovered was not complete bodies, but bones and remnants of items that had been with the bodies, including clothing.
A similar mass grave was found in Gaza last August, containing the remains of 112 people recovered from the rubble of buildings in Sabra, Gaza City. The Gaza Civil Defense says around 8,000 bodies remain trapped under the rubble. Civil Defense chief Raed al-Dahshan said the search could be completed in about 90 days if the necessary heavy machinery and safety equipment become available, but warned the process could take years if such equipment is not allowed into Gaza.
Authorities also said large excavators, safety equipment for rescue workers, and specialized equipment for recovering bodies are urgently needed. Since October 2023, 73,651 Palestinians have been killed and 174,592 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza.
