The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reported on Saturday that more than 10,000 Palestinians are missing under the rubble, with no way to retrieve them or reinter their remains with dignity. This situation constitutes a blatant violation of international law.
In its report, the Monitor stated that the families of victims of the lethal and destructive military attacks launched by Israel against civilians face immense challenges in recovering the bodies. The primary obstacles include the lack of heavy equipment for civil defense teams, the destruction of such equipment by the Israeli military, and the prevention of importing additional machinery from abroad.
The report documented recurrent patterns of Israeli tactics aimed at preventing and obstructing the recovery of victims from the ruins of destroyed civilian structures, including homes and buildings. It noted that this also involves targeting civil defense teams, rescue crews, and families attempting to retrieve bodies, as well as preventing the entry of necessary fuel and equipment.
The Monitor highlighted that the Israeli army deliberately uses weapons with massive destructive capabilities, leaving behind tons of rubble that are difficult to clear, thus hindering the retrieval of bodies.
The report called for international pressure on Israel to adhere to its legal obligations by allowing the entry of special equipment and sufficient fuel to address the urgent need to clear the rubble, search for bodies, and ensure proper burial.
The Euro-Mediterranean Monitor also pointed out that the obstruction of victim recovery is a major cause of the spread of serious diseases and epidemics in Gaza. The decomposition of the majority of the bodies has already exacerbated public health risks for civilians.
