Thousands of buildings in the Gaza Strip were destroyed during the Israel-Hamas war, leaving many victims buried under debris. Local teams and civil defense personnel continue the difficult task of removing rubble and searching for the remains of missing persons believed to be trapped beneath.

In Gaza City, heavy machinery is used to clear war-damaged homes, but the passage of time and a severe shortage of equipment have made recovery operations increasingly complex and slow. According to team member Asaad Shreim, one building was believed to contain the remains of 44 victims; so far, only 13 have been recovered, with most bodies retrieved in the hours immediately following the bombing.

The United Nations has confirmed that Israeli restrictions on heavy equipment entry and the presence of unexploded ordnance among the rubble hinder the removal of millions of tonnes of debris and delay recovery efforts.

Ramez Nabhan, who lost family members in an early bombing, watches ongoing excavation work while awaiting the recovery of their remains. He stated that several missiles struck the building where his relatives were staying, and some bodies, including those of his son, uncle, and aunt, were recovered by residents and civil defense teams. Nabhan noted the initial lack of equipment, fuel, and safe conditions for rescue teams, saying, “We waited a long time and today, we face a new ordeal: recovering the remains and then burying them.”

The war has resulted in over 71,000 Palestinian deaths and more than 171,000 injuries, according to a joint damage and needs assessment report by the UN and partners issued in April 2026.

Sources