The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that the thousands of Palestinians buried beneath Gaza's rubble may never be identified, as recovery efforts remain slow and bodies decompose. In an exclusive interview, ICRC spokesperson Pat Griffiths stated that the longer remains lie unrecovered, the more difficult identification becomes, with advanced decomposition or skeletonization likely.
Recovery Challenges
Since the US-brokered ceasefire in October, Palestinians have begun digging through an estimated 61 million tonnes of debris—20 times the combined conflict debris worldwide since 2008. At least 10,000 people are believed buried beneath, with some estimates as high as 14,000. Rescue teams rely on rudimentary tools like shovels and pickaxes, as requests for excavators and heavy machinery have gone unanswered by Israel.
Griffiths emphasized the need for access to all sites where remains are located, calling for the entry of equipment into Gaza. The ICRC continues dialogue with relevant authorities to facilitate this.
Forensic Hurdles
Dr. Cristina Cattaneo, forensic pathology professor at the University of Milan, noted that time is the greatest enemy of identification. Early recovery allows recognition via facial features, but as time passes, distinguishing characteristics are lost. Forensic experts use age, sex, height, fingerprints, dental records, and personal belongings, but these can be destroyed by environmental conditions, humidity, and animal activity.
Dr. Ahmed Dahir, Gaza's forensic medicine director, reported cases where bodies missing for only two weeks had turned to bones due to scavenging—a process that normally takes six months to a year.
Concerns Over Body Displacement
Witnesses have raised concerns that Israeli military bulldozers may be moving bodies buried under rubble, complicating recovery. The ICRC stated that heavy machinery must be used with caution to preserve remains and identification evidence.
A cemetery in Deir al-Balah holds over 650 unidentified bodies, each grave numbered and documented for potential future identification. Ziad Obeid, director of Gaza's cemeteries department, noted that some bodies have been buried for over two years.
DNA Testing Limitations
Gaza's hospitals lack DNA testing equipment, and Israel does not allow testing materials to enter. DNA degrades over time, making matches increasingly complex. Dr. Cattaneo explained that a genetic match possible weeks earlier becomes far more difficult months later.
Psychological Impact
Psychologists describe the unresolved grief of families as "ambiguous loss," leading to depression, trauma, and identity confusion. Saed al-Yazji, 52, from al-Mughraqa, has not heard from his brother Sameh since October 7, 2023. His family suffers psychological breakdowns, unable to sleep or eat normally.
Wael Radwan, 24, from Jabaliya, lost his father and brother in December 2024. Their bodies were buried at Kamal Adwan hospital, but the site was bulldozed. Without death certificates, his brother's children cannot receive orphan assistance.
Israeli officials stated no approval was given for equipment to recover bodies. Griffiths concluded: "Thousands of families are still seeking answers. That's what at stake: their right to know the fate of those they love."
