Mass Funeral Held in Gaza for 112 Victims Recovered Nearly Three Years After 2023 Airstrike
Palestinians held a mass funeral in Gaza for 112 victims whose remains were recovered nearly three years after a deadly November 2023 Israeli airstrike in Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood. Rescue teams recovered the bodies, including 40 children, during recent excavation efforts made possible by the ongoing ceasefire. Thousands are still believed to be missing beneath the rubble as recovery operations continue.
Gaza City: Palestinians gathered in Gaza on August 4, 2026, to hold a mass funeral for 112 victims whose remains were recently recovered from the rubble of a devastating Israeli airstrike carried out in November 2023. The recovery operation took place over the weekend after rescue teams excavated destroyed buildings in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City.
Bodies Recovered After Nearly Three Years
The victims were killed in an Israeli airstrike on November 22, 2023, during the early weeks of the Israel-Hamas war. The strike destroyed a residential block in the Sabra area, killing more than 300 people, according to local authorities.
At the time, only around 40 bodies could be recovered due to the scale of the destruction. The remaining victims remained buried beneath collapsed buildings until recent recovery efforts became possible under the current ceasefire.
According to Gaza's Civil Defence agency, 112 bodies, including the remains of 40 children, were recovered during the latest excavation.
Mass Funeral Held
The recovered remains, wrapped in Palestinian flags, were laid out for funeral prayers before being carried through the streets and buried in a nearby cemetery. Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral, paying tribute to family members and loved ones who had remained missing for nearly three years.
Relatives said many families had waited years without knowing the fate of those trapped beneath the rubble.
Thousands Still Missing
Officials from Gaza's Health Ministry estimate that at least 7,400 people are still believed to be buried under collapsed buildings across Gaza. Authorities say the actual number could be significantly higher because entire families were killed in some strikes, leaving no one to report missing relatives.
Ceasefire Enables Recovery Operations
The current ceasefire, which came into effect in October 2026, has allowed rescue teams to access previously unreachable areas and recover human remains from destroyed neighbourhoods.
However, the humanitarian situation remains severe. Much of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed, and millions remain displaced. Health officials continue to warn of overcrowding, poor sanitation, and disease outbreaks in temporary camps.
Conflict Continues to Cast Shadow
The Israel-Hamas war began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, though the figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel maintains that its military operations target militants and infrastructure linked to Hamas.
Despite the ceasefire, negotiations on a long-term settlement remain stalled, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement.