Full Breakdown
Mass Funeral Held for 75 Palestinians as Recovery Efforts Continue in Gaza
By Drooid · · How we work
The Funeral and Its Context
On October 18, 2026, hundreds of Gaza residents gathered outside the Daraj Sports Club before the remains of 75 Palestinians—most women and children—were interred at Sheikh Radwan Cemetery. The bodies, recovered over recent weeks from the rubble of homes in the Daraj neighbourhood of northeastern Gaza City, were laid out on Saturday night and wrapped in Palestinian flags so relatives could say farewell. The victims belong to roughly 20 families, many of whom had been displaced into the destroyed houses.
Ongoing Recovery Operations
The retrieval of the remains is part of the Gaza Civil Defence’s second-phase project, launched on July 19. This phase targets 147 destroyed homes across Gaza City and the northern and central enclave, where the agency estimates about 1,072 bodies remain trapped. The first phase, begun in November 2025, recovered 333 bodies and the remains of 559 people from 54 sites, but limited equipment left around 226 cases unresolved. Civil Defence director of public relations and media Abdullah al-Majdalawi said the effort continues to be hampered by a shortage of heavy machinery, and Mahmoud Basal, a Civil Defence spokesman, warned that locating the more than 8,000 missing Palestinians could take up to eight years with current resources.
Scale of the Human Toll
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that at least 74,475 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s war began in October 2023, with over 174,000 injured. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) estimates roughly 200,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Civil Defence officials believe the remains of another 8,000 Palestinians are still buried beneath the rubble.
Official Statements
Abdullah al-Majdalawi emphasized that the recovered victims were inside their homes when the structures were bombed during the war’s early months. He reiterated the need for additional equipment to accelerate the search for the missing. Mahmoud Basal, referencing the ceasefire agreement that took effect earlier, noted that Israel was expected to permit heavy equipment into Gaza, but Palestinian authorities and factions have accused Israel of not fulfilling that commitment.
Outlook
The Civil Defence plans to continue its phased recovery work despite resource constraints, while the broader humanitarian situation remains dire amid ongoing destruction of civilian infrastructure.