Thousands of Palestinians gathered in Gaza City on Tuesday for a mass funeral for 112 members of the Hassayna and Abu Sharia families. Their remains were recently recovered from beneath the rubble nearly three years after an Israeli air raid in November 2023.

Mourners carried bodies wrapped in Palestinian flags through the streets of the besieged city. Local media described the event as one of the largest funerals held since the conflict began in October 2023. Gaza’s civil defence reported that its crews spent two weeks excavating a destroyed residential building in the Sabra neighbourhood to retrieve the remains.

At least 40 of the 112 recovered individuals were children. The families were killed when their homes were flattened in an Israeli strike on November 23, 2023. Relatives used the funeral to reiterate accusations of war crimes against Israel and called for international investigations into the attack.

The recovered remains are set to be buried at the Baptist Cemetery in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood. The scale of the funeral highlights the significant loss of life and the ongoing challenges of accounting for those believed to be buried under rubble across the Gaza Strip.

Accusations of war crimes have been a recurring theme in the ongoing conflict. Families of victims often demand accountability and thorough investigations, particularly when large numbers of civilians are killed in single incidents. The recovery of bodies, sometimes months or years after an event, underscores the devastation and the lingering impact on communities.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, the conflict has resulted in over 73,000 deaths and at least 174,000 injuries since October 2023. Despite a ceasefire agreement in place since October 10, 2025, reports of continued attacks persist. Palestinian authorities estimate that approximately 9,500 people remain missing and are presumed to be under the rubble.

This mass funeral serves as a somber reminder of the human cost of the conflict and the extensive efforts required to identify and lay to rest victims. The demand for international investigations reflects a broader call for justice and accountability from affected families and communities.

Unresolved questions remain regarding the precise circumstances of the strike and the number of individuals still unaccounted for across the territory. The recovery and identification process is ongoing, with many families still awaiting news of their loved ones.