Over 10,000 missing Palestinians still buried under rubble: Report

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
6 Nov 2025 20:27
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The Gaza Missing Persons Committee reports that over 10,000 people are still missing under rubble in Gaza, as rescue efforts remain stalled due to the ongoing Israeli blockade.

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Buildings destroyed by the Israeli military are in ruins in the Shijaiya neighborhood of Gaza City, during an army-organized tour for journalists, Wednesday, November 5, 2025. (AP)

The National Committee for Missing Persons announced on Thursday that more than 10,000 individuals remain buried beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings across the Gaza Strip.

The committee urged the international community to dispatch specialized rescue teams to locate and recover the bodies of Gaza’s missing persons. It also called for the immediate entry of the necessary equipment to carry out this critical humanitarian task.

“This is an urgent humanitarian mission that cannot be delayed,” the committee emphasized in a public statement.

On November 3rd, the Gaza Ministry of Health stated that rescue and civil defense teams continue to face extreme difficulties accessing areas targeted by Israeli strikes, stating that many victims of the Israeli aggressions on Gaza still remain trapped under the debris.

The Government Operations Room for Emergency Interventions in the Gaza Strip also stated to the United Nations on Monday that Gaza faces a great flooding risk due to the extensive destruction inflicted on the infrastructure throughout the war.

In October, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that "the extent of damage in Gaza City alone encompasses 83% of the structures. About 81,000 housing units have been damaged.”

Israeli blockade is hindering rescue efforts

The appeal comes amid the ongoing Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza since the beginning of the war. The siege has severely hampered rescue operations and efforts to retrieve the bodies trapped under collapsed structures.

Local authorities and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that the continued denial of access for rescue equipment and personnel exacerbates the already dire situation in Gaza.

As the war drags on and neighborhoods remain flattened, the number of Gaza missing persons continues to rise, with thousands of families left without closure or the ability to bury their loved ones.