Gaza holds funerals for 70 Palestinians recovered from northern rubble

Crowds in Gaza held funerals on November 15, 2026, for 70 Palestinians recovered from the rubble of destroyed buildings. These remains were retrieved from the Al-Saftawi area in northern Gaza, which includes the Jabalia camp and Beit Lahia. Palestinian news agency reports stated that 60 of the 70 recovered individuals have been identified.

Casualties and military deaths

Hamas confirmed the death of Samir Abu Younes following an Israeli airstrike in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Abu Younes was a 53-year-old senior commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades. He previously served as the commander of the Rafah brigade and joined the Al-Qassam military wing in 1991.

The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 1,643 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire agreement took effect on October 10, 2025. The same ministry reported that 5,964 Palestinians have been injured since that date. This figure of 1,643 deaths since the ceasefire is higher than at least 1,600 deaths reported by local health authorities cited by another source.

Conflict and infrastructure damage

The current conflict in the Gaza Strip began on October 7, 2023. Since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023, the total death toll in Gaza has exceeded 74,000 people. The total number of injuries since the start of the conflict has reached 176,000 people.

The scale of physical destruction in the region remains significant. Approximately 90% of the infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed. The United Nations estimates that the cost of reconstruction for the territory will be 71.4 billion dollars. Furthermore, Factjo.com reported that approximately 8,000 bodies or remains remain under the rubble in the region.

Regional impact and recovery

The recovery of remains from the Al-Saftawi area highlights the ongoing challenges in northern Gaza. The recovery process involves searching through the ruins of buildings destroyed during the conflict. While 60 individuals have been identified among the 70 recently recovered, many others remain missing under the debris.

The humanitarian situation continues to be shaped by the damage to essential services and housing. The massive destruction of infrastructure, estimated at 90%, necessitates the large-scale reconstruction efforts projected by the United Nations. The death toll and injury counts continue to rise as the conflict persists across various sectors of the Gaza Strip.

Glossary

• Hamas — Hamas is a political organization. Not every member of the organization is a militant.
• Gaza Strip — The Gaza Strip is a territory where the current conflict began on October 7, 2023. It is a region experiencing significant physical destruction and infrastructure damage.
• United Nations — The United Nations is an international organization. It provides estimates regarding reconstruction costs and monitors conflicts.
• Jabalia camp — Jabalia camp is a densely populated region of Gaza. It includes the Al-Saftawi area in northern Gaza.