Gaza Faces Growing Crisis as DNA Testing Equipment Ban Hinders Identification of Missing Persons

The situation for missing persons in Gaza is worsening, with the ongoing burial of hundreds of unidentified bodies amid Israel's ban on DNA testing equipment. This restriction threatens to escalate the issue into a long-term humanitarian and social crisis. As time elapses, the chances of identifying the victims diminish, especially with thousands of bodies trapped under the ruins of homes destroyed in the two years of conflict.

Unanswered Questions

Since the morning of October 7, 2023, Abdullah Ramzi Al-Qassas has been unreachable after leaving his home in the Zeitoun neighborhood of eastern Gaza, and his fate remains unknown. His wife, Kawkab Sayam, has endured a painful wait for over two years, caught between hope and despair.

She states, "I don’t know if my husband is alive or dead… Sometimes, I just wish to know, even if he is detained," emphasizing that the lack of medical laboratories has obliterated any chance of discovering her husband's fate or finding solace.

Challenges in Victim Identification

Ahmed Dhahir, the director of forensic medicine in Gaza, confirms that the absence of DNA testing tools and technical resources complicates the identification of bodies. He explained that the power of the weapons used has led to decomposition and fragmentation of remains, with some bodies being consumed by animals, particularly in areas inaccessible to rescue teams. He added that the deaths of several pathologists have further complicated the situation, weakening the medical teams' ability to diagnose.

Temporary Burials Awaiting Solutions

According to Dhahir, the remains received by the forensic department have been preserved for the legal duration and subsequently buried in special cemeteries marked with identification codes, in hopes that DNA testing equipment may eventually be allowed in before the remains decompose and families lose their last threads of hope.

Calls for Urgent International Pressure

Mahmoud Ashour, a spokesperson for forensic evidence in Gaza, has called for immediate international intervention to pressure Israel to allow the entry of necessary technical equipment, including DNA testing laboratories. He stressed that denying Gaza these capabilities is not just a technical barrier but "an affront to the dignity of the victims and a continuous suffering for their families," who continue to seek one answer: Where are our children?