In Gaza City, amidst the debris and ruined structures, over 100 orange stretchers adorned with Palestinian flags were laid out on Tuesday morning, marking the location of an Israeli airstrike that occurred at the onset of the conflict. Some flags, smaller in size, indicated that the remains belonged to children. Photos and flower petals were placed on some of the makeshift shrouds, which now held bones, teeth, and shreds of clothing after almost three years of recovery efforts.
These remains belonged to 112 members of the Abu Sharia and Hasayna families, individuals from the same kin group, who lost their lives in the Israeli airstrike on November 23, 2023, in their neighborhood. Hundreds of mourners, including surviving family members, gathered on Tuesday morning to offer prayers for the deceased as they were laid to rest at a nearby cemetery.
Mahmoud Hasayneh, present to bury his brothers, expressed how the event had reopened old wounds for the family, leading to a new wave of sorrow. Youssef Abu Sharia, who lost several family members in the strike, shared his struggle to find their remains due to the insufficient heavy machinery in the area, partly caused by Israeli restrictions on equipment entry.
At the funeral, Abu Sharia expressed a mix of relief and sorrow over finally being able to lay their loved ones to rest after years of waiting. He recounted how his family had divided to avoid potential mass casualties during the conflict, a decision that ultimately could not prevent the tragic loss of some relatives. Tayseer Abu Sharia, another relative in attendance, described the challenging years of waiting for Civil Defence assistance and the family’s eventual hands-on search for remains in the rubble.
The Civil Defence and human rights organizations have urged Israel to permit the entry of heavy machinery into Gaza to aid in the recovery efforts. According to Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the health ministry’s records department, approximately 7,400 individuals are still buried under the rubble in Gaza, with the actual figure likely much higher due to families perishing together with no one left to report the missing.
Mahmoud Basal, the Civil Defence spokesperson, highlighted the urgent need for resources and equipment to overcome the significant challenges they face in the recovery process. Tuesday’s funeral, where 112 individuals were finally laid to rest, was described as a historic event in the Palestinian cause, emphasizing the scale of the tragedy.
The burial ceremony began with a prayer at the strike site before the crowd carried the shrouds covered in flags to the cemetery, accompanied by chants and prayers. Youssef Abu Sharia, reflecting on the burial, expressed the ongoing anguish of not being able to locate those still missing, questioning their fate amidst the devastation.
