Red Cross: Scale of destruction in Gaza hampers identification of remains

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross said the vast scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip is severely impeding efforts to verify the identities of remains being recovered from under the rubble, stressing that difficult field conditions and a lack of specialized equipment are hindering search and documentation operations.

He said the continued closure of crossings and delays in the entry of aid and specialized teams are exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe, calling for crossings to be opened urgently and without restrictions and for humanitarian supplies and medical teams to be allowed access to the affected population.

The Red Cross stressed the need to protect civilians under international humanitarian law and to ensure aid reaches all areas of the territory, amid catastrophic conditions facing residents including food insecurity, the collapse of health services, and ongoing interruptions to water and electricity.