In Gaza, a prolonged and devastating conflict has left thousands of families searching for loved ones who have gone missing. The war, one of the most destructive in recent decades, has resulted in widespread destruction, with many homes reduced to rubble. Authorities estimate that at least 6,000 people are still buried beneath the ruins, although the actual number could be significantly higher due to the lack of reporting from entire families who have perished.

The situation is particularly dire for families who have lost multiple members. Khalid Nassar, a resident of northern Gaza, has been searching for his two missing children since their homes were destroyed in separate airstrikes on Jabaliya camp. Similarly, Fadwa al-Ghalban’s 27-year-old son Mosaab disappeared after going to check on their bombed home in the southern town of Maan. These families, and many others like them, are left to cling to hope as they search for any sign of their loved ones.

The process of finding and identifying the missing is complicated by Israel’s restrictions on equipment entering Gaza, which hampers the use of advanced DNA testing. As a result, families are often forced to dig through the ruins by hand, searching for any trace of their loved ones. Mohammad al-Najjar, whose 23-year-old son Ahmad vanished during an air raid nearly two years ago, says that he and his wife are still unable to sleep, haunted by the memory of their son.

The International Commission on Missing Persons has emphasized the need for advanced DNA testing to identify the missing. However, until such equipment is allowed into Gaza, families will continue to suffer the anguish of not knowing what happened to their loved ones. The search for the missing is a painful reminder of the devastating human cost of the conflict in Gaza, and the need for a resolution to bring closure to those affected. As the search continues, families hold on to the hope that they will one day find out what happened to their loved ones, and be able to lay them to rest.