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| Relatives of Palestinian victims killed in Israeli attack | File Photo: Reuters |
Even though the war in Gaza has stopped, the death toll keeps rising. Since the ceasefire, dozens of bodies have been found under the rubble daily. According to the UN, more than 354 bodies have been recovered since January 19, when the ceasefire took effect. Gaza’s health authorities fear that over 10,000 bodies may still be trapped under the debris, many of them already decomposed.
Israel’s 15-month-long attacks have killed more than 48,000 Palestinians and injured hundreds of thousands. The entire region has turned into ruins. As displaced Palestinians return home, bodies are being found beneath the destruction every day.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Friday that 354 bodies had been recovered from the rubble since the ceasefire. Of these, 171 were found between January 22 and 28. Search and rescue operations continue, with local residents joining recovery efforts.
Mahmoud Bashal, spokesperson for Gaza’s emergency services, estimates that at least 10,000 more bodies remain buried under the wreckage. Rescuers hope to recover them within 100 days, but the shortage of bulldozers and equipment is slowing down efforts.
On Monday, the Civil Defense Agency stated that 48% of its workers had been killed, injured, or captured in Israeli attacks. Additionally, 85% of their vehicles and 17 of their 21 offices were destroyed.
Despite this, rescue teams continue searching for survivors and bodies. BBC images show rescuers pulling out lifeless children and body parts from the debris—often using only their hands due to a lack of tools.
A rescue worker in Gaza, Abdullah Al-Majadlabi, said bodies are lying on every street, and calls keep coming in from people reporting loved ones trapped under the rubble.
Families Still Searching for Loved Ones
Malak Kasab, a Gaza resident, told the BBC that some of her family members remain buried under the rubble. Rescue workers are trying to recover their bodies.
Clearing the Rubble Could Take 21 Years
The UN estimates that Israeli attacks have created more than 50 million tons of debris in Gaza. According to a UN report, clearing this debris could take up to 21 years and cost at least $1.2 billion.
A separate UN report last year stated that rebuilding Gaza’s destroyed homes could take until 2040, or possibly even longer.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, said that "nothing is left of Gaza" and that rebuilding its infrastructure could take 10 to 15 years.
2,500 Wounded Children Need Urgent Evacuation
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for 2,500 critically injured children to be evacuated from Gaza for urgent medical treatment. He also emphasized that they must be allowed to return home after treatment.
In a social media post on Thursday, Guterres warned that these children are at risk of dying and need immediate care.
Days before the ceasefire, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 12,000 injured Palestinians were waiting to leave Gaza for medical treatment.
American surgeon Dr. Feroz Sidhwa, who worked in Gaza during the war, said nearly 2,500 children are now at a critical stage. If they do not receive medical care soon, many could die within weeks.