Gaza’s civil defence teams successfully recovered the remains of 21 Palestinians on Saturday from the debris of two residential buildings destroyed during the ongoing war. Spokesman Mahmoud Basal confirmed that the operation involved retrieving 12 bodies from the Batniji family home located near the Asqula area in eastern Gaza City, alongside nine additional remains recovered from the Gharbiyah family home in the city's western Katiba area.
Following these recoveries, rescue crews shifted their focus to the al-Maghribi family home in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of eastern Gaza City. Authorities have received reports indicating that as many as 40 individuals may be trapped beneath the wreckage at that location. The ongoing recovery efforts are part of a second phase project initiated on July 19, which aims to clear 147 destroyed homes across Gaza, North Gaza, and central Gaza. Officials estimate that the remains of approximately 1,072 people may still be buried at these sites.
Basal highlighted the severe operational constraints facing the civil defence, noting that acute shortages of fuel, heavy machinery, and logistical supplies have significantly impeded progress. These limitations have hampered the ability of rescue teams to reach numerous damaged structures. During the project's first phase, which began in November 2025, crews recovered 333 bodies from 54 sites, yet resource deficiencies left an estimated 226 bodies unrecovered. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, roughly 9,500 people remain missing since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023.
The broader humanitarian toll of the military offensive has been extensive, with Palestinian authorities reporting over 73,000 deaths and more than 174,000 injuries, primarily among women and children. Furthermore, approximately 90% of the enclave's infrastructure has been destroyed. Basal has issued an urgent appeal to the international community, calling for the provision of essential equipment to support the ongoing, high-stakes recovery missions.
