The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warns that the risk is increasing that thousands of Palestinians buried beneath rubble in Gaza may never be identified. The ICRC says slow search and recovery efforts and the continued passage of time are making human remains more difficult to recognize and verify. ICRC spokesperson Pat Griffiths tells outlets that the longer remains lie under debris, the more likely they are to be in advanced stages of decomposition, including “skeletonised,” when eventually recovered. He adds that forensic experts may lose access to circumstantial evidence used to corroborate identities, including fingerprints, dental records and personal belongings, while environmental factors such as humidity and animal activity can further erase clues.
The accounts also cite the scale of destruction and debris in Gaza, with reports referencing UN data that large portions of buildings have been destroyed and that debris totals tens of millions of tonnes. Some reporting says residents fear bodies may be moved by bulldozers in areas controlled by Israeli forces, complicating family searches. Recovery work has reportedly been hampered by limited access to heavy machinery, with repeated requests to bring equipment into Gaza described as denied.
