In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in northern Gaza, Mahmud al-Masri, a 60-year-old farmer, faced a devastating choice. With his home area transformed into a danger zone, he buried his three brothers and their five children in a nearby citrus orchard before fleeing. The inaccessible cemetery, situated in a border area prone to tank movements, left Masri with no alternative.
Now seeking refuge in a crowded hospital in southern Gaza, Masri recounts the difficult decision to evacuate his family after weeks of intense bombardment. The toll of the brutal war has surpassed 10,500 lives lost, predominantly civilians, according to reports from the Hamas-run health ministry.
Masri shared his account with AFP, emphasizing the necessity of the orchard burials due to constant bombings and Israeli incursions hindering access to the cemetery in Beit Hanoun. However, uncertainty looms over the fate of the graves, as Masri’s house was reportedly destroyed by Israeli military bulldozers.
The conflict, sparked by the October 7 Hamas attacks, has marked the bloodiest chapter in Gaza’s history. The grim reality is visible in bodies accumulating outside hospitals, on roads, and in parks, stored in refrigerated trucks, and even repurposed ice cream vans.
Cemeteries face challenges of being full or inaccessible due to Israeli strikes, compelling families to improvise during burials.
In a poignant incident in early November, approximately 50 bodies from a bombardment at the Jabalia refugee camp were transported in the rear of a pick-up truck to a local hospital. Limited space at the cemetery forced relatives to create a communal mass grave at a dirt football field, now bordered by UNRWA-run schools serving as shelters for internally displaced Gazans.
Using picks and shovels, men dug a rectangular pit in the football field, laying men on one side and women on the other. The pit was covered with corrugated iron sheeting and topped with a layer of earth.
Shihteh Nasser, involved in the burial, explained the necessity of using football fields and vacant lots due to the saturation of proper burial grounds. The lack of fuel for cars further resulted in bodies being transported in carts, painting a grim picture of the challenges faced by civilians caught in the midst of this devastating conflict.
Sourced from AFP and other internet sources
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