Gaza: Search for Thousands Missing Under Rubble Begins | Abu Nasr Family Tragedy
Palestinian civil defense teams on Sunday began a campaign to recover thousands of bodies believed to be trapped under rubble in northern Gaza, starting with the site of the Abu Nasr family home in Beit Lahia. The initiative, dubbed “Dignifying the Martyrs,” represents the first organized attempt to retrieve remains from areas heavily bombarded during the two-year conflict.
The Abu Nasr family home was struck by an Israeli airstrike on October 29, 2024, while sheltering approximately 200 people, including family members and those displaced by fighting. Survivor Aya Abu Nasr, speaking to Anadolu, stated that roughly 150 people were killed in the strike, with many still unaccounted for. “More than a year later, the family is still waiting to recover the remains of those still buried to bury them properly,” she said, displaying photographs of her missing brother, Mohammed.
According to official estimates, approximately 9,500 Palestinians remain missing across the Gaza Strip, buried under the debris of destroyed buildings. Mohammed Tamous, a Civil Defense officer, stated that the campaign will extend to multiple locations in northern Gaza, prioritizing sites thought to contain a large number of bodies. He highlighted a critical shortage of equipment, noting the need for bulldozers and machinery, with only one vehicle currently provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Tamous appealed to humanitarian organizations for additional support.
Rescue operations are hampered by hazardous conditions, including the presence of decomposing bodies and limited access to protective gear and biological testing tools. These limitations are attributed to restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities. Since the ceasefire on October 10, 2025, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported the recovery of 726 bodies.
The two-year conflict has resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths and more than 171,000 injuries, with approximately 90% of civilian infrastructure destroyed. Despite the ceasefire, at least 601 Palestinians have been killed and over 1,600 injured in Israeli attacks, according to reports. Palestinian media reported on February 15, 2026, that the remains of 67 members of the Abu Nasr family were recovered from their home in Beit Lahia as part of the initial search operation.
The ICRC is participating in the search operations at the Abu Nasr family home, as part of the “Honoring the Martyrs” campaign, according to a Facebook post from the Beit Lahia Project area.
As of February 16, 2026, civil defense officials have stated that over 7,000 people remain missing under the rubble, and continue to appeal for equipment to aid in the recovery efforts.