Gaza families bury dead in shared graves as cemeteries run out of space
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Gaza families are burying their dead in shared graves and makeshift sites as cemeteries run out of space after more than 73,000 Palestinians were killed since October 2023. Omar al-Sawhi buried his father in his grandfather's grave after finding no space at Zeitoun Cemetery. More than 40 cemeteries have been destroyed and others converted into shelters for the displaced.
Key Facts
- More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023.
- Gaza's Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs says more than 40 cemeteries have been destroyed since the war began.
- At least 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the October 2025 ceasefire was announced.
- Authorities in Gaza recovered the remains of 529 Palestinians from seven mass graves in hospital grounds.
- A grave at Zeitoun Cemetery costs about 500 shekels ($167), which many families cannot afford.
Burial Crisis
Omar al-Sawhi, 20, had to bury his father Mohammad, 40, in his grandfather's grave after finding no space at Zeitoun Cemetery. Mohammad al-Sawhi was shot dead on June 10 near the Israeli-designated 'Yellow Line' military zone while working at a roadside tea stall. A grave at the cemetery costs about 500 shekels ($167), a sum the family could not afford. Many graves in Zeitoun Cemetery are marked only with a stone and a piece of paper bearing the deceased's name due to lack of space and difficult war conditions.
Cemetery Destruction
Gaza's Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs reports that more than 40 cemeteries have been destroyed since the war began. Israeli forces have enforced tight restrictions on access to cemeteries in areas under their control, further reducing available burial spaces. Areas previously designated for burial sites have been converted into shelters for the displaced as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced from their homes.
Recovery Efforts
After the US-brokered ceasefire in October 2025, families began recovering their dead from the debris of destroyed homes and temporary burial sites. Authorities in Gaza said the remains of 529 Palestinians were recovered from seven mass graves in hospital grounds. At least 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire was announced, each requiring a burial space.
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Gaza families bury dead in shared graves as cemeteries run out of space
