Death toll in Gaza increases

Israel has handed over the remains of over 80 Palestinians through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Ahmad Duhair, acting head of the Justice Ministry’s Forensic Medicine Department, stated on August 6 that the remains arrived in a large truck container via the Kerem Shalom crossing, Caliber.Az reports citing the Turkish media.

“Identifying the individuals is challenging due to the complete decomposition,” Duhair noted. He added that the remains were placed in plastic bags marked only with serial numbers, and no additional information was provided about the individuals, including their identities, the locations of their deaths, or their places of detention.

Duhair also mentioned that some remains were found in winter clothing, suggesting they may have been taken or killed during the winter months. The exact origins of the remains—whether from inside the Gaza Strip or from detainees—remain unclear.

The Gaza government's media office has claimed that Israeli forces have exhumed over 2,000 bodies from cemeteries in Gaza since October 7, 2023, amid ongoing conflict. The statement alleges that the bodies were taken from cemeteries that Israeli forces bulldozed and disturbed, describing the actions as a violation of humanitarian principles.

The media office previously accused Israel of organ theft from deceased Palestinians, though no official Israeli response has been provided. This accusation comes as Israel faces global condemnation for its sustained military offensive on Gaza, which has continued despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

Since the conflict began, over 39,600 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have been killed, with more than 91,600 injured, according to local health authorities. Gaza remains heavily affected by the blockade, resulting in widespread destruction and severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies.

Israel faces genocide charges at the International Court of Justice, which has issued an order for an immediate cessation of its military operations in Rafah. The city, where over 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the ongoing conflict, was invaded on May 6.

The situation in the Middle East has sharply deteriorated following an attack on October 7, 2023, by militants from the radical Palestinian group Hamas, who breached the Israeli border from Gaza. The assault involved the killing of residents in border towns and the capture of hostages. In response, Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, launched strikes on the enclave, and targeted specific areas in Lebanon and Syria. A ground operation in Gaza has since been initiated, with hostilities ongoing.