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cliffside

(1,520 posts)
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 12:12 AM Nov 3

The grim task of recovering thousands of bodies from the rubble of Gaza

Source: Guardian

"Relatives and experts tell of the human and societal need to find and identify the dead, while images and data shed light on the scale of the job

It has been described as one of the most gruelling recovery efforts in modern warfare.

... Identifying the bodies is not just a question of restoring dignity to the dead; it is also necessary for the health of the living. Psychologists described the unresolved grief of relatives of the unidentified dead as an “ambiguous loss” which can generate or contribute to depression, trauma and identity confusion, a situational disorder widespread in Gaza.

The few remaining hospitals in the territory lack the equipment for DNA testing, which is desperately needed to help identify thousands of missing or deceased peope. Israel does not allow DNA testing materials to enter Gaza..."

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/02/the-grim-task-of-recovering-thousands-of-bodies-from-the-rubble-of-gaza

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Bayard

(27,794 posts)
1. Why should Israel get a say so on DNA testing in Gaza?
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 12:48 AM
Nov 3

Can't these people even bury their dead in peace?

Skittles

(168,652 posts)
2. they hate each other more than they care about anything
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 01:26 AM
Nov 3

it's just all so fucking disgusting

"The Holy Land"

AloeVera

(3,925 posts)
5. That they hate each other is not really the point.
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 08:51 AM
Nov 3

It's the indignity, trauma and cruelty inflicted - on purpose and with malice. Just because Israel can. It's disgusting.

The hatred? Go back to the root cause, never addressed, made worse over 77 years and now amplified a thousand fold. It is not " thousands of years old" as some want you to believe, much more recent than that.

AloeVera

(3,925 posts)
7. And the West Bank!!
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 04:16 PM
Nov 3

Palestinians are now squeezed into maybe 5% of the lands that were once all theirs. The rest stolen, confiscated, settled or made into Israel's "state lands".

And people ask why the hate? Why October 7th? There was a ceasefire!! It's unreal.

Skittles

(168,652 posts)
11. I don't care what the "cause" was
Tue Nov 4, 2025, 01:26 AM
Nov 4

that fact that it's still going on now reflects badly on both sides

FUCKING DISGUSTING

womanofthehills

(10,607 posts)
17. What reflects badly on one side
Tue Nov 4, 2025, 09:53 PM
Nov 4

Is 92% of Gaza homes are gone or destroyed according to UN and that bodies are under theses homes - that asbestos and other toxic chemicals are in the air and it will take till 2050 or later to clean up all the rubble -but the worst horror is thinking of little children and babies under the rubble who didn’t die instantly and may have suffered for days - injured and in pain trapped without food and water. How many thousands of kids died this way?

cliffside

(1,520 posts)
8. "Why should Israel get a say so on DNA testing in Gaza?" They can because many look the other way and no press allowed
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 08:35 PM
Nov 3

the same thing is happening with the bodies Israel is returning.



AloeVera

(3,925 posts)
4. Only some people matter, dead or alive.
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 08:44 AM
Nov 3

DNA testing, dignified burial by family, respect for each of the dead and worldwide sympathy, healing and therapy for the bereaved - all for me, me, MEEE but not for thee.

cliffside

(1,520 posts)
10. Gazan families face painful process of identifying Palestinian bodies returned by Israel
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 08:57 PM
Nov 3

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/10/28/gazan-families-face-painful-process-of-identifying-palestinian-bodies-returned-by-israel_6746868_4.html#

"Lacking access to advanced forensic technology, medical examiners have to rely on the vigilance of the families of the missing to identify their loved ones, as Israel returned the bodies without any information about their identities.


Palestinians watch a screen displaying the examination of the bodies of prisoners returned by Israel, at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, October 21, 2025. JEHAD ALSHRAFI / AP

It is 2 pm in the waiting room of the orange-colored building at Nasser Hospital. A grim screening is coming to an end. Since 9 am, dozens of families from Gaza have sat on rows of plastic chairs, solemn and focused, watching a screen that shows photographs of decomposing, unrecognizable, sometimes dismembered, blinded, toothless bodies frozen in grotesque postures. These are the corpses of Palestinian detainees returned by Israel in exchange for Israeli hostages, as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas signed on October 10. In total, 400 bodies are expected to be returned..."

AloeVera

(3,925 posts)
12. My God. Dismembered? Blinded?
Tue Nov 4, 2025, 05:20 PM
Nov 4

Wtf?? These are people who were killed in Israeli "jails" in reality torture camps? What was done to them?

These poor families.

May all responsible get exactly what they deserve.

cliffside

(1,520 posts)
13. Doubt we'll ever know what happened ... I cannot imagine watching videos of bodies to see if one is a relative ...
Tue Nov 4, 2025, 07:09 PM
Nov 4

I sure hope some are held to account. I have my doubts



FakeNoose

(39,493 posts)
14. How will they ID all these people? What an awful task
Tue Nov 4, 2025, 07:28 PM
Nov 4

It's not like they are American GIs wearing metal dogtags. I'll best most Gazans don't have passports or any kind of ID card.

cliffside

(1,520 posts)
15. Some country needs to provide them with DNA testing, not to mention so many other things. nt
Tue Nov 4, 2025, 08:16 PM
Nov 4

AloeVera

(3,925 posts)
16. The double standard and cruelty is jaw-dropping.
Tue Nov 4, 2025, 08:31 PM
Nov 4
Rescue teams have so far had to rely on rudimentary tools – shovels, pickaxes, wheelbarrows, rakes, hoes – and their bare hands. Requests to Israel to allow the entry of excavators and heavy machinery so they can work more effectively have received no response.

"The whole world has seen the equipment that was brought in to retrieve the bodies of Israeli hostages [including bulldozers and excavators],” said Dr Mohammed al-Mughir, the director of humanitarian support and international cooperation at the civil defence. “We also need the same equipment to retrieve our bodies.”


Oh, there's lots of bulldozers and excavators in Gaza, supplied by Israel. Busy for months tearing down what remains of Gaza and every single home that was still standing. Israel can't spare even one of them to help recover Palestinian bodies.

The world sees the double standard and cruelty. We will not forget.

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