world 4 August 2026 Nile Post
Gaza Holds Mass Funeral for 112 Victims of Late 2023 Israeli Strike
A somber mass funeral was held in Gaza City for 112 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, killed in an Israeli strike on a residential area in late 2023. The bodies, belonging to members of two extended families, were only recently recovered from rubble after a two-week operation. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/361224/mass-funeral-in-gaza-for-112-palestinians-killed-in-2023-israeli-strike
Gaza City witnessed a significant and emotional mass funeral for 112 Palestinians who perished in an Israeli airstrike in late 2023. The victims, largely comprising women and children from the Abu Sharia and Hassayna families, had their remains only recently unearthed from the debris following a two-week recovery effort.
Footage from the event showed the flag-draped bodies lined up before relatives carried them for burial, marking what is reported to be the largest funeral of its kind in Gaza. Mourners expressed profound grief and pain, with one attendee, Ali Abu Sharia, stating that the recovery and burial offer a measure of relief amidst ongoing suffering.
The strike occurred on November 22, 2023, in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, six weeks after the October 7th Hamas-led attack on Israel. The affected families included 44 children, 38 women, and seven individuals with disabilities.
The BBC has sought comment from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regarding the targeted site but has not yet received a response. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 73,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began.
The recovery operation was conducted by the Civil Defence, with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC provided essential equipment, training, and heavy machinery to assist in the delicate work of recovering bodies, emphasizing the importance of treating the deceased with dignity.
Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal noted that the building, which housed over 180 civilians, was leveled, with an estimated 90% casualty rate. He mentioned that initial access to the site was hindered by the need for coordination and safety concerns.
Relatives guided the recovery teams, expressing relief at being able to provide a proper burial for loved ones. Nahed al-Hassayna spoke of the devastating loss, questioning the reasons behind the deaths of children, while Yousef Abu Sharia recounted losing his entire family.
It is believed that numerous bodies remain unrecovered at the site, and thousands more are unaccounted for across Gaza, likely buried beneath the rubble from the intense conflict.
This report is based on information from the Nile Post.