Kathmandu— The ongoing conflict in Gaza has created a devastating crisis not only in terms of immediate casualties but also in the ability to honor the dead, as cemeteries reach full capacity and are even destroyed by Israeli forces. Families are struggling to find places to bury their loved ones, resorting to makeshift graves or exhuming remains for reburial due to limited space and prohibitive costs. The situation is compounded by the breakdown of services and ongoing dangers from attacks, leaving thousands unaccounted for and buried in temporary locations.

Exhausted Burial Grounds

Omar al-Sawhi faced the grim task of finding a burial place for his father, Mohammad, who was killed on June 10th. Upon arriving at the Zeitoun Cemetery in Gaza City, he found it overcrowded with victims of the conflict, many marked only by stones and paper due to lack of space. A grave now costs approximately 500 shekels ($167), a sum his family could not afford, forcing them to bury him on top of his grandfather’s grave. The complete collapse of services has led to many Palestinians being considered “missing” during the war, with bodies buried in gardens, tents, and at displaced persons camps.

Mass Graves and Recovered Remains

Following a ceasefire brokered in October 2025, families began recovering loved ones from destroyed homes and temporary burial sites. Authorities have recovered the remains of at least 1,200 Palestinians since the ceasefire, each requiring burial space. The remains of 529 Palestinians were found in seven mass graves on hospital grounds. This surge in deaths is not only due to the high casualty count—exceeding 73,000 since October 2023—but also the deliberate destruction of cemeteries by Israeli forces.

Restrictions and Resource Shortages

Gaza’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs reports that more than 40 cemeteries have been destroyed during the war. Israeli forces have also restricted access to cemeteries in areas under their control, further limiting burial options. With hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes, previously designated burial grounds are now being used as shelters. The cost of burial ranges between 700 ($235) and 1,000 shekels ($335) due to shortages of materials like headstones, with families using debris, mud, or corrugated metal as temporary markers.

Gravedigger’s Testimony

Tafesh Abu Hatab, a gravedigger with over 19 years of experience at Khan Younis Cemetery, describes the current situation as the most difficult period of his career. The cemetery has expanded from approximately 60 graves at the start of the war to 6,000, and he was preparing around 35 graves per day during peak periods of violence. He recounts burying entire families after Israeli bombs destroy homes, vehicles, or tents, stating, “They destroy our homes over our heads, and from the rubble of those homes, we build our graves.”

Seeking New Burial Grounds

Ikrami al-Madallal, a media official at the Endowments Ministry, explained that many of Gaza’s 60 cemeteries were already full before the war began. The ministry is actively searching for new burial grounds and coordinating the transfer of bodies from temporary locations to cemeteries. He emphasized that this process requires coordination with multiple government authorities.

Authorities continue to search for viable land for new cemeteries while grappling with the ongoing challenge of respectfully transferring remains from makeshift sites, highlighting the long-term implications of the conflict on Gaza’s ability to mourn its dead.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.