Why it matters:
The continued return of bodies showing signs of violence has raised serious concerns of mistreatment, extrajudicial killings, and war crimes committed by Israeli forces. The absence of identifying information further complicates Gaza’s efforts to locate thousands of missing Palestinians.
State of play:
Authorities in Gaza estimate that around 9,500 Palestinians remain missing, with many believed to be trapped under rubble from Israeli bombardments or detained without contact.
Under the latest ceasefire agreement, Hamas released 20 living Israeli captives and handed over the remains of 11 others in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
What it is saying:
In a statement on Saturday, the Health Ministry said its medical teams are handling the remains in accordance with forensic and medical standards, including examination, documentation, and identification procedures, before returning them to the families.
“Some of the bodies show signs of abuse, beatings, bound hands, and blindfolded eyes,” the ministry said.
The ministry added that families have so far identified seven victims through an online reference system designed to match the remains with missing persons.
The big picture:
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left Gaza largely uninhabitable. Hospitals, schools, and entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, with widespread shortages of food, medicine, and clean water.
Between the lines:
The Health Ministry’s detailed documentation of recovered bodies may serve as potential evidence in future war crimes investigations, as rights groups intensify calls for international accountability over Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Go deeper:
Gaza Health Ministry: Organ Theft Found in Returned Palestinian Bodies
Zohre Khazaee - Mojtaba Darabi
