The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that thousands of Palestinians believed to be buried beneath Gaza’s rubble may never be identified, as recovery efforts continue to face major obstacles, according to a report by The Guardian.
The report on Sunday said rescue and recovery operations remain slow despite a fragile US-brokered ceasefire that took effect in October, while the passage of time is increasing the likelihood that human remains will deteriorate beyond recognition.
“There is no doubt that these bodies could soon become difficult to identify,” Pat Griffiths, the ICRC spokesperson in occupied East Jerusalem, said.
“The longer it takes for human remains to be recovered, the more difficult it can be to identify them. The longer the deceased lie beneath the rubble, the more likely they will be in advanced stages of decomposition, even skeletonised, when eventually recovered.”
He added: “Forensic experts lose access to circumstantial evidence that can be used to corroborate their identity.”
Palestinians have begun searching through an estimated 61 million tonnes of debris accumulated during the genocidal war.
Health officials in Gaza estimate that at least 10,000 people remain buried beneath the rubble, while some experts believe the number could be as high as 14,000.
Prolonged delays may hinder identification efforts
The newspaper reported that rescue teams have largely relied on basic tools, including shovels, pickaxes, wheelbarrows, rakes and hoes, as well as their bare hands, to retrieve remains.
