Gaza Conflict: Palestinians work to identify dozens of dead handed over by Israel

After being buried and having their remains documented by the authorities for future identification, Israel has turned over the bodies of eighty Palestinians who were killed in the battle in Gaza, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday.

Gaza authorities were trying to figure out when and where the men were killed and who they were.

An instant request for comment was not answered by Israeli officials.

Per the health ministry, Israel turned over the bodies via the border crossing at Kerem Shalom. As per the Islamic Waqf, which is the ministry responsible for religious affairs, the bodies were gathered from the northern region of Gaza Strip.

Such a big number of bodies returned is unusual.

Tuesday, they were laid to rest in a long trench at a cemetery in Rafah, which is located south of the enclave.

Approximately 21,000 people have died as a result of Israeli strikes, according to Palestinian health authorities, and many more are thought to be buried under debris. The 2.3 million residents of the enclave have all been forced from their homes—many of them many times.

Israel claims to be doing everything in its power to safeguard civilians and accuses Hamas of putting them in danger by coordinating with them—a claim that Hamas refutes.

Despite international appeals for an end to the 11-week conflict, the Gaza war has been going on since Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 240 prisoners on October 7 in the deadliest day in Israel’s history.

(With agency inputs)