Mass funeral in Gaza for 112 Palestinians killed in 2023 Israeli strike

In Gaza City, a mass funeral was held for 112 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, who perished in an Israeli strike on a residential block in late 2023. The victims, belonging to two extended families, were recovered from under the rubble after a two-week operation. The funeral was the largest of its kind in Gaza, with mourners expressing feelings of pain, grief, and loss.

Among the deceased were 40 children, 38 women, and seven individuals with disabilities from the Abu Sharia and Hassayna families, a single clan. The Israeli attack occurred on November 22, 2023, six weeks after the October 7 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. The recovery work, conducted by the Civil Defence under Hamas's interior ministry, received support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the form of equipment, training, and excavators.

The ICRC spokesperson, Patrick Griffiths, emphasized that providing closure to the families was crucial for their ability to mourn their losses. Relatives guided the recovery crews to locate and recover the bodies, which were then buried with Palestinian flags and photos of the deceased. Despite the grim circumstances, the community found solace in giving the victims a dignified farewell, with Yousef Abu Sharia expressing his grief as the sole survivor of his family.