Gaza Families Face Grisly Search for Loved Ones in Returned Bodies

Israel has returned the bodies of 195 Palestinians to Gaza. This exchange is part of the ongoing ceasefire deal with Hamas. Families are now undertaking the grim task of identifying their loved ones.

The bodies were handed over without identification from Israeli authorities. According to the Associated Press, many remains are heavily decomposed and damaged. This has created a forensic emergency in the war-torn strip.

Forensic Challenges Complicate Identification Process

Families gather at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza to search for missing relatives. Photos of the bodies are posted online and displayed in a hospital shed. Most remains are unrecognizable, covered in mud and blood.

Israel provided almost no information with the bodies. Gaza’s forensic teams have limited means to determine causes of death. The Israeli military told the Associated Press that all bodies returned so far are those of combatants.

Some bodies show signs of possible abuse. At least 13 have hands or feet bound. Others have deep indentations or broken bones. This has raised serious concerns among international observers.

A Mother’s Heartbreaking Search for Closure

For many, the search is deeply personal. Wahiba Shabat spent two years unsure of her son Mahmoud’s fate. She finally identified him by a scar on the back of his head.

His body was returned with his hands tied. His jaw was broken and there was caked blood in his mouth. Shabat said her 34-year-old son was not a fighter but had rushed into Israel out of curiosity on October 7.

Other families continue their desperate searches. Shaimaa Abu Awda looks daily for her 16-year-old son Rayan. He was last seen heading to school as the attack began.

The return of bodies provides some closure for grieving families. However, the grisly identification process highlights the war’s devastating human toll. This gaza families search continues as more bodies are expected to be returned in the coming days.

Thought you’d like to know

Why are bodies being returned now?

The body exchange is part of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Hamas is gradually returning the remains of hostages. Israel agreed to return Palestinian bodies in exchange.

How many bodies has Israel returned?

Israel has returned 195 bodies so far. Officials expect another 200 bodies to be handed over. Hamas has returned the remains of 15 of the 28 dead hostages.

What condition are the bodies in?

Most bodies are heavily decomposed and damaged. Many are unrecognizable after months in morgues. Some show signs of possible abuse or binding.

How do families identify the bodies?

Families must rely on photos and personal recognition. They look for scars, birthmarks, or distinctive clothing. There is no DNA testing available in Gaza.

Are all the returned bodies fighters?

Israel says all bodies are combatants. However, several identified individuals were not fighters. This includes a labourer shot in his car and a teenager going to school.

What help are families receiving?

The International Committee of the Red Cross provided refrigerated trucks. Forensic teams at Nasser Hospital are documenting the bodies. Still, resources remain extremely limited.