Three years into the war in Gaza, Palestinian Civil Defence teams and families are still searching for more than 8,000 people believed to be buried beneath an estimated 61 million tonnes of rubble left by Israeli bombardment.
The painstaking recovery operations are being hampered by a severe shortage of heavy machinery, forcing rescue workers to search through destroyed buildings largely by hand as families wait for news of relatives who have been missing for years.
“For two years, we have been waiting for this moment to honour them and lay them to rest,” said Youssef Issa, who is awaiting the recovery of his relatives’ remains.
According to Palestinian Civil Defence figures cited by the United Nations Human Rights Office, more than 630 bodies and human remains had been recovered from beneath destroyed buildings across Gaza since November 2025. More than 8,000 people were still estimated to be missing under the rubble as of September 2026.
The recovery process remains difficult because of restrictions on heavy equipment entering Gaza. Reports indicate that only two excavators remain operational across the territory, severely limiting the ability of rescue teams to clear debris and reach suspected burial sites.
Access presents another challenge, with more than 60 per cent of Gaza reportedly under Israeli military control or within restricted zones, leaving many locations inaccessible to search crews.
The absence of DNA testing facilities in Gaza further complicates the identification of recovered remains. Families are often left relying on clothing, personal belongings and blankets to determine whether those found beneath the rubble are their missing relatives.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned that the discovery of what appear to be entire families beneath destroyed buildings raises serious humanitarian and legal concerns. He has called for international investigators to be granted access to Gaza and for efforts to recover, document and identify the remains to be strengthened.
For families who have spent years waiting for answers, the searches offer a chance to establish the fate of their loved ones and provide them with a dignified burial. But with thousands still unaccounted for and recovery work constrained by limited equipment and access, many continue to face the anguish of not knowing what happened to those they lost.
