Grieving the unknown: 54 Gazans buried after remains returned under ceasefire
As-salamu alaykum. Families in Gaza buried 54 people in a communal grave on Wednesday after their unidentified remains were returned from Israel as part of the ceasefire agreement. The bodies, wrapped in white kafan, were placed together at a cemetery in Deir al-Balah, and heavy equipment was used to fill the grave. Funeral prayers were led by Sheikh Ihsan Ashour, the Mufti of Khan Younis.
These 54 were among 165 Palestinians whose remains were handed back, many reportedly showing signs of torture or execution. Authorities said the 54 could not be identified within the allotted time, so after documenting personal effects they were given a burial according to Islamic rites.
Meanwhile, Israel has complained about the slow return of its own captives by Hamas and has linked some humanitarian aid to their release. The Palestinian Centre for Missing Persons has protested what it sees as double standards.
Under the ceasefire arrangement brokered with international involvement, Israel agreed to return the bodies of Palestinians in exchange for the return of Israeli dead. The hostage and detainee exchange was central to the temporary halt in major offensive operations in Gaza.
Details about how these Palestinians died remain limited. Gaza officials say examinations showed evidence of gunshot wounds, burns, fractures, blindfolding and signs consistent with torture; some were reported to have had hands and feet bound or to have been crushed by vehicle tracks. Gaza’s media office described injuries suggesting close-range shots and other brutal treatment.
Israel rejects allegations of abuse. A government spokesperson stressed Israel’s adherence to international law and pointed to the suffering of Israeli hostages.
The ceasefire also included the release of 20 living Israeli captives via the ICRC and the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian detainees, who were relocated to Gaza, the occupied West Bank or Egypt.
May Allah grant the deceased mercy and patience to their families, and bring justice and healing to all those affected.
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