Civil defence crews in Gaza have recovered the bodies of 30 members of a single Palestinian family, out of an estimated 60 who were killed beneath the rubble of a destroyed home in western Gaza City, following an Israeli airstrike during the ongoing campaign of annihilation in the Strip.
This site marks the first location in a systematic campaign launched by the Civil Defence on Monday to search for thousands of bodies still trapped beneath the ruins of homes and buildings demolished over months of bombardment.
The Civil Defence confirmed that the retrieved bodies belonged to members of the Salem family, who were in the Abu Ramadan family’s home in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood when it was targeted on 19 December 2023. The rescue operation continues with severely limited resources—currently relying on just one excavator.
These efforts are being carried out under extremely difficult conditions, with crews using rudimentary tools and deteriorating heavy machinery. The Israeli occupation continues to block the entry of modern search-and-rescue equipment capable of lifting heavy debris. This restriction not only hinders rescue efforts but also prolongs the suffering of families searching for loved ones, denying them the right to bury their dead with dignity.
Since the ceasefire came into effect on 10 October, search efforts have remained uncoordinated and largely carried out by civilians due to the lack of equipment and movement restrictions. Nevertheless, in the past two months, the Israeli occupation has selectively allowed the entry of limited equipment, specifically for retrieving the bodies of Israeli captives, while continuing to block similar tools needed to recover the bodies of Palestinian victims, highlighting a clear double standard.
The refusal to allow the entry of debris removal equipment constitutes a serious violation of obligations to protect civilians during armed conflict. It undermines the right to life and human dignity, including the dignity of the deceased and the rights of their families. Leaving bodies beneath rubble for extended periods may amount to inhumane and degrading treatment and severely hinders documentation and accountability efforts, impacting society’s right to truth.
Furthermore, destroying homes over their inhabitants and then obstructing access to the victims raises serious legal questions regarding the principles of proportionality and military necessity, as well as the duty to facilitate humanitarian relief, search and rescue operations without obstruction.
Since the Israeli onslaught began on 7 October 2023, the near two-year war of extermination has resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths, more than 171,000 injuries, and the widespread destruction of nearly 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. An estimated 70 million tonnes of rubble now choke the Strip.
Amid this devastation, thousands of bodies remain trapped beneath the ruins, harrowing witnesses to the immense human and legal cost, and to a deliberate failure to meet the bare minimum of humanitarian obligations and dignity.
