In Gaza City, the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike from the onset of the conflict was marked by a solemn scene on Tuesday morning. Over 100 orange stretchers, adorned with Palestinian flags, lay among the ruins and building remnants. Among them, smaller flags denoted the remains of children. These stretchers held the remains of 112 individuals from the Abu Sharia and Hasayna families, who lost their lives in the Israeli airstrike on November 23, 2023.
After almost three years, the families, alongside Gaza’s Civil Defence, finally retrieved the remains, now reduced to bones, teeth, and shreds of clothing. The emotional funeral gathering took place at the Baptist cemetery, where hundreds came to pay their respects and offer prayers for the deceased.
Mahmoud Hasayneh, mourning the loss of his brothers, expressed the renewed pain felt by the family. Youssef Abu Sharia, who lost several family members in the same strike, recounted the difficulties in searching for their remains due to the lack of heavy machinery in the region. The slow and manual process of retrieving bodies has been further impeded by damaged equipment and Israeli restrictions on importing necessary machinery into Gaza.
Despite the long wait, the families found some closure as they laid their loved ones to rest. However, the grief was accompanied by frustration over the prolonged search and the immense loss suffered by many families in Gaza. The Civil Defence, along with human rights organizations, called for international support in providing the essential machinery to expedite the recovery efforts.
According to the head of Gaza’s health ministry records department, Zaher al-Waheidi, thousands of people are still trapped under the rubble in Gaza. The true count of casualties is believed to be significantly higher, as entire families perished in single strikes, leaving no one to report their missing loved ones.
At the emotional funeral service, attendees mourned the tragic loss of 112 lives and demanded action to ease the challenges faced in recovery operations. The burial procession, marked by prayers and chants, culminated in the families finally laying their relatives to rest after years of waiting and uncertainty. Despite the closure for some, the painful question lingers for many – where are the thousands still missing in Gaza?
