‘Skull without a jaw’: Gaza survivors search for what remains of the dead
Al Jazeera
Palestinians are taking the opportunity provided by the Israel-Hamas ceasefire to search for the remains of loved ones.
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Palestine – With a heavy heart, keen eyes and trembling hands, Abu Muhammed Ghaith meticulously searched through the thick nylon bags used as makeshift shrouds for those killed in Gaza. Inside the morgue at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, he was hoping to find a trace of his missing son. Instead, he was met only with unidentified body parts and fragmented remains.
The sight left him collapsed on the ground, overwhelmed by grief and exhaustion. Yet, he gathered his strength and continued searching for any trace of 17-year-old Muhammed, shifting his focus from bodies to personal items: a pair of sandals patched with yellow plastic or an orange sweater, a black jacket, tracksuit pants – anything that could belong to his son.
“Has anyone seen a patched sandal with a yellow sole? Please, if you find it, let me know,” Abu Muhammed pleaded with others who, like him, had come to the morgue early on Tuesday to look for their loved ones among the remains of dozens of bodies that the Palestinian Civil Defence had salvaged from beneath the rubble in Rafah, south of Khan Younis on the Egyptian border. Tears streamed down his face as he sank to his knees and leaned against the wall. “I’m no longer looking for his body – just his sandal. You see what we’ve come to?” he muttered, a mix of sorrow and helplessness in his voice.
A ceasefire that came into effect on Sunday between Israel and Hamas has enabled hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their mostly-demolished homes in Rafah and elsewhere in the Strip. Relentless shelling for 15 months has driven nearly 2 million Palestinians in Gaza into displacement, many without the chance to properly reclaim the bodies of loved ones who perished beneath bombing and rubble.
The devastated infrastructure and Israel’s targeting of ambulances and civil defence also hindered their ability to reach sites struck by bombs.
After previously feuding with Musk, pro-Israel group rushes to defend gesture, which critics compared with Nazi salute.
At a hearing, Elise Stefanik pledged to continue the US’s defence of Israel and advance Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda.
Donald Trump signs record 26 executive orders on second term’s first day, including an effort to restrict citizenship.
Trump says Zelenskyy ‘wants peace deal’ and Putin must accept; Moscow says ‘no specific proposals’ from Washington.
Republican marks White House return by taking action on issues such as the January 6 riots, climate and migration.
US president sweeps away years-long effort to punish those responsible for trying to overturn the 2020 election.
Republican leader took his oath of office under the US Capitol Rotunda as frigid weather forced the ceremony indoors.
At least 62 bodies are recovered as Palestinians return home and scour debris to find an estimated 10,000 war dead.
Republican set to return to the White House after a stunning political comeback in November’s presidential election.
As an Israel-Hamas ceasefire begins, rubble is all that’s left in large swaths of southern Gaza’s Rafah.
Jubilant crowds of relatives, friends and well wishers gathered to celebrate the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Palestinians in Gaza hail ceasefire as thousands start preparations to return home following 15 months of war.
Patients eagerly await the reopening of the Rafah crossing to get the critical medical care they need to survive.
The Israeli government ratified the agreement early on Saturday morning after meeting for more than six hours.
The deal will take effect from Sunday and involves the exchange of captives held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners.
Hala Rharrit calls for accountability for US officials who ensured the flow of arms to Israel despite abuses in Gaza.
US President-elect Donald Trump faces one of the coldest inauguration days in modern history when he is sworn in Monday.
The court rules unanimously that the law did not violate free speech protections.