Palestinians return to inspect their homes after the Israeli army withdrew from some areas east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, 10 October 2025. EFE/EPA/HAITHAM IMAD

Gaza officials believe at least 7,000 bodies buried in rubble

Jerusalem (EFE).- Gaza’s Ministry of Health believes there are still at least 7,000 bodies of dead people among the rubble of the Strip, of which 3,600 have been reported missing by their families.

Zaher Al-Waheidi, director of the ministry’s unit in charge of counting the deceased, told EFE Saturday that it is estimated that the 3,600 people reported missing will mostly be dead people whose bodies have not been recovered.

In addition, Al-Waheidi said there is at least a similar number of deaths that have not been reported as Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed entire families, leaving no one to report the missing.

According to figures from the Gaza government, more than 2,700 families, totaling more than 8,500 people, have been erased from the civil registry, and today not a single member of those families remain alive.

There are still 600 bodies recovered from the rubble and bombed streets of the Palestinian enclave in hospital morgues that have not been identified, Al-Waheidi said.

With the ceasefire that came into effect on Friday and the movement of Israeli troops to a line of withdrawal, the efforts of rescue services are now focused on recovering the dead in areas they were previously unable to access due to the presence of the Israeli army.

On Friday alone, Civil Defense teams recovered 99 bodies in various areas of the Gaza Strip.

Furthermore, there are bodies buried under mountains of rubble that will not be reached until machinery is available, as rescue teams currently have insufficient resources to carry out these tasks. EFE

mt/tw