The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the chances of identifying Palestinians buried beneath Gaza's rubble are rapidly diminishing, as unexploded Israeli munitions, a severe shortage of heavy machinery and the destruction of medical infrastructure obstruct recovery efforts.

According to Gaza's Civil Defence, around 8,000 Palestinians remain missing, most believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings, while approximately 1,000 bodies have been recovered since October 2025.

The absence of DNA testing facilities, refrigeration equipment and reliable electricity has further complicated identification efforts, leaving hundreds of victims buried in numbered graves without their identities being established.