clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Palestine medics recover remains of 17 people from rubble in Rafah

January 24, 2025 at 8:44 pm

An aerial view of the destruction caused by the Israeli army’s 470-day-long attacks on Gaza Strip on January 24, 2025 in Rafah, Gaza. [Hasan Eslayeh – Anadolu Agency]

The Palestinian medical and rescue teams on Friday recovered the remains of 17 Palestinians from the rubble of destroyed homes in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, who were killed in the course of the Israeli genocidal war, Anadolu Agency reports.

A medical source told Anadolu that the remains of 17 people were brought to the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis from Rafah.

“The recovered bodies were found in a decomposed state, making the identification process challenging in some cases,” the medical source said.

Following their arrival at the hospital, dozens of families rushed to the hospital with hope to identify the bodies of their missing relatives, according to witnesses.

The witnesses added that the families identified the corpses by their clothes and some belongings.

READ: UN warns against ‘deteriorating’ situation in Occupied West Bank

As the ceasefire took effect on Sunday, Palestinians in Rafah began returning to areas evacuated by the Israeli army.

The first six-week phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect on 19 January, suspending Israel’s genocidal war that has killed nearly 47,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured nearly 111,500 since Oct. 7, 2023.

The three-phase agreement includes a prisoner exchange and sustained calm, aiming for a permanent truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, and its residents displaced, hungry and prone to disease.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

WATCH: Clothes found after Israel strip searched Palestinians in Gaza