Gaza Civil Defense: 10,000 martyrs still under the rubble

Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal said on Monday that approximately 10,000 martyrs remain under the rubble of buildings destroyed across the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Israeli war.

Basal explained, in a statement reported by Jordan’s Al-Mamlaka TV, that Civil Defense teams are unable to retrieve bodies due to the massive destruction and the Israeli occupation’s targeting of heavy equipment needed for rescue operations.

He pointed out that the occupation forces bombed buildings housing approximately 250 people, all of whom are still under the rubble. He emphasized that the occupation targeted machinery and equipment that could be used to retrieve bodies, while simultaneously bombing civilian homes.

Basal added that Civil Defense is awaiting the entry of heavy equipment to begin recovery operations and “humanitarian intervention,” calling for the concerted efforts of all institutions in the Gaza Strip to address the disaster.

Basal questioned the challenges on the ground, saying, “Where will we put the rubble after the martyrs are recovered? How will we identify the bodies? Does the Civil Defense have the capacity to deal with the occupation’s remnants under the rubble?” He pointed out that the presence of explosive munitions makes the task risky.

The Civil Defense spokesperson called on the international community and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action to bring in appropriate equipment and tools to recover the martyrs’ bodies and end the suffering of thousands of families still waiting to bury their loved ones.