At least 1129 bodies recovered in the Gaza Strip remain unidentified, according to figures shared with the Independent by Gaza's forensic evidence department. These bodies are among the tens of thousands killed in the conflict but cannot currently be matched to names.
Forensic experts in Gaza say they lack sufficient DNA testing capacity and related technology to identify many of the recovered bodies, hindering efforts to confirm the identities of the dead.
Authorities in Gaza have reported that equipment and forensic capabilities – including DNA labs – are in short supply. Efforts to recover bodies and conduct testing are made more difficult by the scale of destruction and debris.
A similar scenario has been reported in Ukraine (see BioNews 1319).