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135 Bodies Recovered in Gaza as Ceasefire Allows Rescue Efforts; Thousands Return to Ruins
As Israel’s ceasefire takes effect, rescue teams recover 135 Palestinian bodies from Gaza’s rubble. Thousands of displaced families return to the ruins of their homes — a painful yet defiant act of hope.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-10-11
135 Bodies Recovered in Gaza as Ceasefire Allows Rescue Efforts; Thousands Return to Ruins

The bodies of at least 135 Palestinians have been recovered from beneath the rubble across the Gaza Strip as Israel’s ceasefire-mandated halt in its two-year genocidal war allowed rescue workers to finally access devastated areas.

According to Palestinian news agency Wafa, dozens of bodies were pulled from several hospitals across Gaza — including 43 taken to al-Shifa Hospital and 60 to al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City — with others transported to medical facilities in Nuseirat, Deir el-Balah, and Khan Younis.

Medical officials also reported that 19 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes on Friday, while one person succumbed to earlier injuries. Among them were 16 members of the Ghaboun family, whose home south of Gaza City was obliterated in the early hours.

It remains unclear whether any of these attacks occurred after the truce took effect at noon local time.

Return to the Rubble

As Israeli troops withdrew from parts of the besieged enclave, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians began their heartbreaking journey back to the ruins of their homes.

Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Nuseirat, described scenes of “children, women, elderly, cars, vans, donkey carts loaded with furniture” moving toward Gaza City. “Families removed their makeshift tents to set them over the ruins of their destroyed homes,” he said.

“This return is seen as historic,” Abu Azzoum added, “but it needs to be accompanied by concrete steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.”

Nearly all of Gaza City lies in ruins after months of relentless Israeli bombardment — no functioning infrastructure, no clean water, no electricity — only shattered buildings and scorched earth.

“There is now an urgent need for makeshift tents and mobile shelters for returning families,” said Al Jazeera’s Moath Kahlout from Deir el-Balah. “Carrying what little they have, they march toward the unknown.”

Defiance Amid Devastation

Despite the unimaginable loss, Palestinians continue to show what observers describe as “remarkable resilience.”

One returnee, Naim Irheem, told Al Jazeera, “I’m going to Gaza City even though there are no conditions for life there — no water, no electricity. My son was killed, all my daughters were wounded, but still I must return.”

Another survivor, Aisha Shamakh, said, “Floors fell on our children, but I can’t describe the joy of the ceasefire. We want to see our homes — even if they are gone.”

Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalil reported from Gaza City that people returned with “exhausted faces filled with both grief and joy.” Many did not know whether their homes were still standing — yet they returned, clinging to hope.

Mohammed Sharaf, standing amid the wreckage of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, said: “Everything has changed. We thought we would leave for a few days. Now we are back and have found nothing.”

Even amid death, loss, and unimaginable destruction, the will to return symbolizes a people’s refusal to be erased — a defiant stand against displacement and annihilation.
Tagged:

Palestine

GazaCeasefire

HumanitarianCrisis

GazaUnderAttack

WarCrimes
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