200 Bodies Recovered in Gaza After Ceasefire; UN Warns of a Decade-Long Cleanup Process

GAZA, January 23 (Alliance News): The bodies of Palestinians killed during Israeli airstrikes continue to be discovered amidst the rubble of buildings in Gaza, with 200 bodies recovered so far since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect on Sunday.

Medical teams and Gaza’s Civil Defense Department are struggling to retrieve the deceased due to a severe shortage of heavy machinery, much of which has been destroyed during the ongoing conflict.

According to Muhammad Bassil, head of the Gaza Civil Defense, about 10,000 people killed in the attacks are still missing and have yet to be recovered.

The United Nations has issued a stark warning, projecting that it could take up to 10 years to clear the unexploded ordnance and landmines left behind in Gaza.

According to UN estimates, it may require 21 years and a staggering $1.2 billion to clear over 50 million tons of debris.

Additionally, the UN’s OCHA humanitarian agency has emphasized that removing explosives alone could cost approximately $500 million.

In the meantime, 808 aid trucks entered Gaza on the fourth day of the ceasefire, as part of the international humanitarian relief efforts.