Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
In Gaza City, local civil defence teams and volunteers continue combing through debris long after initial bombings, trying to locate the remains of victims believed to be buried under destroyed buildings. One building targeted in the early days of the conflict reportedly held 44 victims, of which only 13 have so far been recovered by search teams, following initial retrievals shortly after the bombings.
According to local personnel, search and recovery operations are severely hindered by a shortage of heavy machinery due to Israeli restrictions on equipment entry. The presence of unexploded ordnance further complicates efforts, posing significant risks and slowing the process of clearing rubble and retrieving remains.
One affected family, represented by Ramez Nabhan, has experienced multiple losses, including his wife and children in a bombing early in the war. Some family members' bodies were recovered soon after the attacks, but many remain unreachable due to current operational challenges. Nabhan describes a prolonged ordeal, emphasizing delays caused by lack of equipment, fuel, and unsafe conditions for rescue teams during the initial months.
The ongoing situation means that families face a complex process of recovering, identifying, and burying relatives after an extended wait. Local teams have placed recovered remains in designated bags and are preparing for identification procedures and eventual burials, but many victims still lie beneath the rubble, prolonging families' suffering.