Grave crisis deepens in Gaza amid ongoing genocide

Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in Gaza announced Wednesday that graves have run out in most areas of the Strip, as the death toll continues to rise due to nearly 22 months of what it describes as an ongoing genocide by 'Israel'.

In a statement, the ministry said the “systematic targeting of civilians and continued acts of genocide” have coincided with the depletion of burial space across Gaza.

Since October 2023, the 'Israeli' army has fully or partially destroyed more than 40 cemeteries throughout the enclave, the ministry added.

It also noted that 'Israeli' forces are preventing Palestinians from accessing cemeteries in areas under military control, leading to the shrinking of burial spaces, exhaustion of existing cemeteries, and a growing shortage of graves for burying both the dead and those killed in Israeli attacks.

Compounding the crisis, the army is reportedly blocking the entry of burial shrouds, construction supplies, and other essential materials, preventing proper Islamic burials.

'Israeli' evacuation orders have further reduced available land for burial, as many plots have been turned into shelters for displaced families.

As a result, bodies are accumulating in hospital courtyards, and schoolyards and private homes are being used for emergency burials. Some families have reopened old graves to accommodate multiple bodies.

The ministry also reported that the cost of preparing a single grave has surged to between 700 and 1,000 shekels (USD 1 ≈ 3.37 shekels), placing additional strain on grieving families.

It called on Arab and Islamic countries, as well as humanitarian organizations, to support its newly launched “Dignity Campaign” to construct free graves and urgently provide burial supplies.

Images shared online almost daily show bodies piling up in and around hospitals, as mass killings in Gaza show no sign of slowing down.