Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the Ketibe district, located in the western part of Gaza City, to recover bodies trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
The "Operative Information Center-OMM" reports that Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defense, confirmed the recovery of 13 additional bodies, including women, children, and the elderly.
According to the report, these individuals were inside a multi-story residential building belonging to the "Garbiyye" family, which was destroyed during the initial days of Israeli military operations.
Rescue teams are currently facing severe shortages of heavy machinery, fuel, and logistical support. Basal stated that rescuers are often forced to conduct searches with "bare hands," which significantly slows progress and poses serious risks to the personnel involved.
He noted that if the necessary machinery and equipment are provided, the process of recovering the bodies could be completed within a few months. Without such support, the operation could take years to conclude.
The current search and rescue efforts are being carried out as part of the second phase of a large-scale project launched by the Gaza Civil Defense on July 19.
Official data suggests that approximately 1,072 bodies are believed to remain under the debris of 147 buildings destroyed across the Gaza, North Gaza, and Central Gaza governorates.
Operations, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), are currently limited to the use of only one excavator, one bulldozer, and one truck.
According to the Gaza Government Media Office, approximately 9,500 Palestinians have been reported missing since the conflict began. It is believed that some of these individuals remain trapped under the rubble, while the fate of others remains unknown.
Gaza Civil Defense personnel have appealed to international organizations and human rights agencies, demanding urgent measures to provide the region with the heavy machinery and essential equipment required to continue these humanitarian efforts.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn significant attention from the international community, highlighting the severe infrastructure damage and the immense challenges faced by local emergency services in their efforts to recover victims and provide closure to affected families.
