Gaza City holds mass funeral for 73 children recovered from rubble

In Gaza City, more than 100 Palestinians, including 73 children, were buried in a mass funeral after their remains were recovered from the rubble of a residential building in the Zeitoun neighborhood. The bodies had been trapped beneath concrete for a significant period following an Israeli airstrike.

This event marks the second mass funeral of this scale for Palestinian children within a single month. Save the Children reports that over 21,000 minors have been killed in the conflict since October 2023. Ahmad Alhendawi, the organization’s regional director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, stated that such scenes must not become a normalized reality and called for international accountability.

Recovery efforts have been complicated by logistical restrictions. Reports indicate that Israeli authorities have limited access to heavy machinery, specialized equipment, and forensic personnel necessary to excavate debris and identify the deceased. These restrictions also impact the delivery of food and humanitarian aid to the region.