Gaza buries 105 victims of 2023 strike after three-year recovery delay

Key points

• 105 Palestinians were buried in a mass funeral in Gaza City on October 1, 2026, for victims of an Israeli airstrike on October 25, 2023.
• The victims were killed in the destruction of the seven-storey Al Taj 3 building and surrounding residential structures in the Yarmouk Square neighborhood.
• The recovery operation took 17 days and was conducted by Gaza's civil defense in coordination with an Egyptian committee.
• The delay in recovering the bodies was due to the lack of heavy machinery, which was targeted by Israeli forces, and the ongoing conflict.
• Over 1,431 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, according to Palestinian health authorities.
• The international community has been unable to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza, according to Sultan Barakat, a professor of public policy at Qatar Foundation’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University.

Background

This event occurs within the broader context of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which began in October 2023. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and destruction in Gaza, with over 74,000 Palestinians killed since the start of the war. The ongoing violence has drawn international attention and condemnation, with several international NGOs and a UN commission finding that Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip. The recent mass funeral highlights the continued impact of the conflict on the civilian population and the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations in providing aid and recovery services.

How outlets are covering it

Al Jazeera emphasized the emotional impact of the funeral, describing the mood as one of 'grief' but also 'long-awaited closure' for the families of the victims. Africanews highlighted the difficulty of recovering the bodies due to the lack of heavy machinery and the ongoing conflict, noting that mass funerals have become more common in Gaza. Middle East Eye provided a broader context of the conflict, including the ongoing violence despite the ceasefire and the international community's inability to hold Israel accountable. Oz Arab Media focused on the recovery of the bodies and the preparation for the burial, emphasizing the delay in the recovery process.

Why it matters

The mass funeral in Gaza City underscores the ongoing impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on the civilian population and the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations in providing aid and recovery services. The delay in recovering the bodies highlights the lack of heavy machinery and the ongoing conflict, which has prevented the recovery of many bodies. The continued violence despite the ceasefire agreement raises concerns about the effectiveness of the truce and the international community's ability to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. The event also highlights the emotional impact of the conflict on the families of the victims and the need for long-awaited closure.

What to watch

The ongoing violence in Gaza is expected to continue, with the international community facing challenges in holding Israel accountable for its actions. The recovery of more bodies from the rubble is likely to be a priority for humanitarian organizations, but the lack of heavy machinery and the ongoing conflict will continue to pose challenges. The effectiveness of the ceasefire agreement will be closely monitored, and the international community will need to take action to ensure that the truce is upheld and that the civilian population is protected.