Mass graves, unclaimed bodies and overcrowded cemeteries. The war robs Gaza of funeral rites

By ISABEL DEBRE and WAFAA SHURAFA
Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians say the devastating war between Israel and Hamas is robbing them not only of their loved ones but also of the funeral rites that long have offered mourners some dignity and closure in the midst of grief. The overwhelmed hospitals and morgues and near-constant bombardment have made Islamic rituals and grieving all but impossible. Cemeteries have compelled families to dig up long-buried bodies and deepen the holes to make space for new victims. Overflowing morgues have compelled hospitals to bury people before their relatives can claim them. To increase the chances of being identified if they die, Palestinian families have begun wearing identification bracelets and scrawling names with marker on their children’s arms and legs.