Families' agonising search for answers as thousands still missing in Gaza
Ten months after a ceasefire was declared, thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are still reported missing.
The families of missing individuals in Gaza are desperately seeking answers as thousands remain unaccounted for. Ahmed al Madhoun, a 21-year-old with Down syndrome, disappeared after visiting a local shop in May 2025 during the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. His mother, Majdiya, is heartbroken and fears her son may be dead, but she remains hopeful for his safe return.
The Civil Defence agency estimates over 8,000 people are missing in Gaza, while the Red Cross has received more than 5,000 requests to locate those missing. Israeli media reported that a senior security source claimed the official death toll is accurate, though many Palestinians may be buried under rubble. Israeli authorities have detained around 7,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with about 1,300 currently held without charge or trial.
Families often struggle to get information from Israel about their loved ones' whereabouts, leading them to rely on NGOs and lawyers for assistance. Neither the al Drimli nor the al Madhoun families have any connection to militant groups in Gaza, yet they continue to search for their missing sons, Mahmud and Ahmed, who were detained or disappeared during the conflict.
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