Gaza family mourns 112 killed in November airstrikes, remains recovered from rubble

In Gaza City, hundreds of Palestinians gathered Tuesday to bid farewell to 112 members of one family, whose remains were finally recovered from beneath the rubble where they were killed by Israeli airstrikes in November 2023. The solemn procession saw bodies covered in Palestinian flags laid out in rows, accompanied by anthems from loudspeakers.

"We came to bid farewell to a group of martyrs, children, women, and the elderly," said Ahmed Abu Shariea, a relative of the victims. "This is a funeral for the entire Palestinian people because they are the victim. There are still people under the rubble, and they did not fight or carry weapons."

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We came to bid farewell to a group of martyrs, children, women, and the elderly. This is a funeral for the entire Palestinian people because they are the victim. There are still people under the rubble, and they did not fight or carry weapons.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense, reported that 44 of the bodies recovered over two weeks in July were children. He added that the victims were all from one large family. Recovery efforts, described as arduous, involved digging by hand through twisted metal and concrete, with some skeletons remaining intact only due to their clothing.

Civil defense officials estimate that over 8,000 bodies may still be buried under the rubble in Gaza. The recovery of many remains was aided by two excavators rented by the International Committee of the Red Cross, highlighting the ongoing challenges and the need for specialized equipment.

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The massacre at the time caused a larger number of martyrs than what was recovered, as the rest of their bodies evaporated.