Gaza families search for loved ones among unmarked remains returned by Israel

Palestinian families are attempting to identify remains of relatives returned by Israeli authorities without names or documentation. At Nasser Hospital, health officials report many bodies show signs of torture, complicating identification efforts amid Gaza's destroyed infrastructure.

Palestinian families are gathering at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza in a desperate attempt to identify the remains of loved ones returned by Israeli authorities without names or identifying documents. Health officials report that 120 bodies have been handed over in three batches through the International Committee of the Red Cross, many bearing signs of torture and burning.

A Harrowing Identification Process

With no laboratories or DNA testing equipment available in the devastated Gaza Strip, identification relies entirely on visual recognition. The Health Ministry has set up a large screen displaying censored images of the remains, each marked only with a numerical code. Families study these images for any distinguishing features that might help them locate missing relatives. "The face was disfigured by torture, but I recognized him from a mole near his nose and the shape of his teeth," said Akram al-Manasrah, who identified one of his two missing sons.

Systematic Lack of Information

Forensic director Ahmad Dhahir explained that Israel provided no data accompanying the remains, making scientific identification impossible. The hospital has established a multi-step process where potential matches are called for in-person verification before bodies are released to families. Unidentified remains within five days will be buried by the Awqaf Ministry with detailed mapping to preserve future identification possibilities. This occurs amid reports that Israel holds approximately 1,500 additional Palestinian bodies at the Sde Teiman military base.

Context of Ongoing Conflict

The painful identification process unfolds as Gaza authorities estimate 9,500 people remain missing following Israeli military operations that have killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians since October 2023. The body returns coincide with a ceasefire agreement that included prisoner exchanges but left fundamental questions unanswered about Gaza's future governance and reconstruction.