The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that thousands of Palestinians buried under Gaza’s rubble may never be identified as recovery operations face severe delays. With an estimated 10,000 to 14,000 people thought to be trapped beneath 61 million tonnes of debris, forensic experts state that the passage of time is rapidly destroying the biological and circumstantial evidence required for identification.
Why identification efforts are failing
Recovery teams are currently forced to work with rudimentary tools like shovels, pickaxes, and bare hands because Israel has not approved the entry of heavy machinery into the territory. According to ICRC spokesperson Pat Griffiths, the lack of excavators prevents access to sites where human remains are located. This delay exposes bodies to environmental weathering and animal scavenging, which can reduce human remains to skeletonized states in as little as two weeks—a process that typically takes months under normal conditions, according to Dr. Ahmed Dahir, Gaza’s forensic medicine director.
Did You Know? The volume of debris in Gaza is estimated at 61 million tonnes, which is approximately 20 times the combined amount of rubble generated by all global conflicts occurring since 2008.
The impact of time on forensic evidence
Forensic pathology experts warn that the window for successful identification is closing. Dr. Cristina Cattaneo, a professor of forensic pathology at the University of Milan, explains that time is the primary enemy of identification, as features like faces and fingerprints are lost to decomposition. Furthermore, the absence of DNA testing materials in Gaza—which Israel does not allow into the territory—means that even genetic evidence is degrading beyond the point of utility, making future matches significantly more complex.
Expert Insight: The inability to identify the deceased creates a state of “ambiguous loss” for families. This prevents the closure necessary for psychological health, as relatives are left without death certificates or physical remains, often resulting in systemic issues such as the denial of orphan assistance for children of the missing.
What may happen next
As the war approaches its third year, the number of unidentified remains continues to grow, with over 650 bodies already interred in a designated cemetery in Deir al-Balah. Without a change in policy regarding the entry of heavy machinery and DNA testing equipment, it is likely that thousands of families will remain without answers. The ongoing destruction of potential evidence, whether through environmental decay or the movement of debris by military bulldozers, suggests that the list of missing persons may become a permanent, unresolved legacy of the conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t rescue teams use excavators to find bodies?
According to the ICRC, requests for Israel to allow the entry of heavy machinery have gone unanswered, and officials have stated there is no approval to bring such equipment into Gaza.
How does the lack of identification affect living relatives?
Psychologists note that families suffer from “ambiguous loss,” which contributes to depression and trauma. Additionally, without official death certificates, families are unable to secure certain support, such as assistance for orphans.
How many people are estimated to be buried under the rubble?
Health officials in Gaza estimate at least 10,000 people are buried beneath the debris, though some experts believe the figure could be as high as 14,000.
How might the long-term absence of closure for these families shape the future social landscape of Gaza?
