Gaza’s civil defence teams have recovered 19 bodies, primarily women and children, from the ruins of a residential building in Gaza City. Mohammed Abu Dan, who oversees the recovery operations, confirmed that the search at the “Karam” building in the city’s western district concluded on Saturday following four days of intensive work. Specialized medics and rescue crews are now transitioning to a new site within Gaza City to continue their efforts.
These recovery operations remain constrained by a critical shortage of heavy machinery. Civil defence officials have consistently reported that they must rely on manual labor and rudimentary tools to move massive concrete slabs left behind by Israeli strikes. This lack of equipment significantly slows the process of searching through the widespread destruction across the territory.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 8,000 people are still missing and believed to be trapped under rubble. Since the ceasefire began on October 11 of last year, the ministry has recorded at least 1,254 deaths and 4,121 injuries, with 804 bodies retrieved from the debris. The total death toll since October 2023 has now surpassed 73,300, with over 174,000 people wounded.
The recent recovery in the western area follows a mass funeral held Tuesday for 112 members of the Abu Sharia and al-Hasayna families. Their remains were recently pulled from the wreckage of a residential block in the Sabra neighbourhood, which was destroyed during an Israeli strike in November 2023.
