Gaza prepares bodies of 50 for burial

Gaza is preparing on Thursday for the funeral procession of 50 Palestinian victims killed in ‘Israeli’ bombardments that directly targeted their homes across various areas of the Gaza Strip. 

Local sources revealed that relatives of the victims and local residents are gathering to participate in the procession after the bodies, which had remained buried under the rubble for an extended period of time, were finally extracted.

Civil Defense Appeals for Funeral Coverage 

The Civil Defense Directorate in the Gaza Strip issued an official invitation to all local and international media outlets to cover the funeral ceremonies for the 50 martyrs.

The directorate stated that the bodies belong to members of the Sawafiri, Batniji, and Karam families, whose homes were directly targeted by ‘Israeli’ air strikes and ongoing military operations in residential areas.

Read more: 11 bodies recovered under Gaza rubble, Civil Defense says

Civil Defense crews explained that recovery operations faced severe difficulties due to a shortage of heavy equipment and limited fuel for rescue vehicles, delaying access to victims trapped under the rubble for days.

Sources confirmed that Civil Defense personnel are continuing field operations with minimal resources to clear debris in other targeted zones and recover all remaining missing bodies.

Crisis Deepens as Search for Missing Continues 

The funeral ceremonies are taking place amid extremely difficult humanitarian and health conditions facing residents of the Gaza Strip, as hospitals and health centers lack sufficient medical supplies and medicines needed to respond to emergencies.

Humanitarian organizations stress that the continued targeting of residential homes is increasing the number of casualties and worsening the suffering of families across the impacted areas.

Read more: Child among six killed in ‘Israeli’ strikes on Gaza

Citizens across the Gaza Strip turned out in large numbers for previous funeral processions, and have also demonstrated strong solidarity with the families of Karam, Batniji, and Sawafiri.

Relief agencies are continuing their field operations to provide assistance to those affected, amid intensified international calls for the equipment needed by civil defense teams to enable them to recover the remaining missing people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings across the city.

Humanitarian organizations and field teams across the Gaza Strip are broadening their operations on the ground, aiming to thoroughly document the destruction resulting from strikes on residential areas. They emphasize that supporting civil defense personnel so they can fulfill their mission is a crucial humanitarian necessity, essential for saving lives and recovering missing individuals.