More than 12,000 bodies still trapped under rubble in Gaza due to restriction on the equipment needed for their recovery
According to the director of Gaza's Government Media Office, it is estimated that over 12,000 bodies remain buried under debris in the region. This situation persists as Israeli limitations continue to impede the entry of essential heavy machinery needed for recovery efforts.
During a news conference held at the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, Salama Maarouf stated that Israel’s decision to block the entry of heavy machinery into Gaza is obstructing efforts to recover bodies.
He further stated that the Palestinian resistance group Hamas is unable to return the bodies of Israeli captives killed during the conflict in Gaza, citing restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities.
Over the past 15 months, starting from October 2023, the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian territories has resulted in the reported deaths of at least 47,583 individuals, with an additional 111,633 wounded. The majority of the casualties are reportedly women and children.
On January 15, Israel reached a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas after not meeting its stated war objectives, which included the neutralization of Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
The recent imposition of Israeli restrictions has been deemed a breach of the existing agreement.
The Government Media Office issued a warning earlier today, stating that Israel is significantly exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip by obstructing the delivery of even the minimal level of aid stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.
The Government Media Office has reported that the current level of assistance entering the Gaza Strip remains significantly below the necessary threshold.
The office called upon the mediators of the ceasefire agreement to apply pressure on Israel to enforce the humanitarian provisions outlined in the deal.
Furthermore, it implored the global community to break its silence concerning the humanitarian crisis and advocated for the swift organization of an international conference focused on the reconstruction of Gaza. This initiative aims to counteract efforts to displace Palestinians.
