Thousands buried under Gaza rubble may never be identified: Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that thousands of Palestinians believed to be buried beneath Gaza's rubble may never be identified.

Pat Griffiths, the Red Cross spokesperson in occupied al-Quds said rescue and recovery operations remain slow, while the passage of time is increasing the likelihood that human remains will deteriorate beyond recognition.

"There is no doubt that these bodies could soon become difficult to identify," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

He also noted that recovery efforts continue to face major obstacles.

"The longer it takes for human remains to be recovered, the more difficult it can be to identify them. The longer the deceased lie beneath the rubble, the more likely they will be in advanced stages of decomposition – even skeletonized – when eventually recovered."

"Forensic experts lose access to circumstantial evidence that can be used to corroborate their identity.” he added.

Palestinians have begun searching through an estimated 61 million tons of debris accumulated during the Israeli genocidal war on the blockaded territory.

Health officials in the besieged strip estimate that at least 10,000 people remain buried beneath the rubble, while some experts say the number could be as high as 14,000.

The British newspaper reported that rescue teams have largely relied on basic tools, including shovels, pickaxes, wheelbarrows, rakes and hoes, as well as their bare hands, to retrieve remains.

Repeated requests to allow the entry of excavators and other heavy machinery needed to accelerate recovery efforts have not received approval by the Israeli regime.

"Search and recovery teams need access to all sites where human remains are thought to be located," Griffiths said.

"We know that much of this machinery and equipment remains almost impossible to bring into Gaza right now. And it remains our call, and part of our ongoing direct dialogue with the relevant authorities, to allow the entry of these items and equipment into Gaza."

The Red Cross said prolonged delays could undermine future identification efforts, as environmental conditions, displacement of remains and the loss of personal belongings may erase critical forensic evidence.

"We see the scale of the task and we see what’s at stake. Thousands of families are still seeking answers in this way. That’s what at stake: their right to know the fate of those they love," Griffiths said.

The cumulative death toll since the beginning of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023 has now reached 72,993 martyrs, with 173,230 wounded.

Israel intensifies airstrikes and home demolitions across Gaza

The Israeli regime has launched a new wave of brutal airstrikes, heavy gunfire, and large-scale home demolitions across the besieged Gaza Strip.

An earlier study by a leading demographic research center had shown that the death toll of Palestinians as a result of Israel’s genocidal military campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip may be considerably higher than initially estimated.

The researchers' calculations by Max Planck Institute revealed that the number of deaths or killings in the Gaza Strip during the first two years of the war ranged between 99,997 and 125,915. Their median estimate stands at 112,069.

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