Gaza Holds Mass Funeral for 112 Victims
Thousands of Palestinians have attended a mass funeral in Gaza City for 112 people whose remains were recovered from rubble nearly three years after a deadly Israeli airstrike. The victims included 40 children and members of the same extended family.
Gaza Mass Funeral for 112 Victims
Mourners gathered around coffins draped in Palestinian flags before carrying the remains through Gaza City for burial. The victims belonged largely to the Hassayna and Abu Sharia families, a Bedouin clan that lost hundreds of members during the November 2023 attack.
Relatives held funeral prayers before the bodies were taken to the Baptist Cemetery in the Zeitoun neighbourhood. Palestinian officials described it as one of the largest mass funerals held during the Gaza war.
Bodies Recovered From Gaza Rubble
The Israeli strike flattened three apartment buildings in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood on November 22, 2023. Palestinian authorities said 308 people were killed while sleeping inside the residential complex.
Only a limited number of bodies could be removed immediately after the attack because of continuing bombardment, dangerous conditions and the absence of heavy rescue equipment. Approximately 153 victims remained trapped beneath the destroyed buildings.
Gaza Civil Defence teams conducted a 17-day recovery operation and retrieved 112 bodies. Identification relied on personal belongings, jewellery, clothing and known physical characteristics because forensic resources remain limited.
Thousands Remain Missing in Gaza
Recovery work has accelerated in some accessible areas, but large quantities of unexploded ordnance and continued Israeli military restrictions have complicated operations. Dozens of victims from the Sabra strike are believed to remain beneath the debris.
Palestinian authorities estimate that thousands of people remain missing across Gaza and are presumed buried under collapsed buildings. The total cannot be independently verified. The Israeli military has not publicly provided details about the intended target of the November 2023 Sabra strike.
