Grieving relatives gathered at the Al-Shifa Medical Complex courtyard in Gaza City to bury the remains of 50 Palestinians. The bodies, recovered after days of painstaking work from a building destroyed in an Israeli strike nearly two years ago, belonged largely to members of a single extended family. Officials believe about 20 additional family members remain trapped in wreckage that is currently too unstable or inaccessible to search safely.
The funeral procession proceeded to a nearby cemetery for prayers and burial. Officials warned that thousands of bodies remain trapped under rubble citywide due to shortages of heavy machinery, fuel, and safe access, while a lack of burial space is forcing families to use makeshift grounds.
Residents described feeling both relief at being able to mourn properly and renewed grief. Meanwhile, aid groups have repeatedly called for international support and equipment to accelerate recovery operations across the territory.