The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has called for immediate international pressure to ensure the entry of forensic teams and technical experts into Gaza. This is vital to aid in retrieving the bodies of victims trapped under rubble and in military incursion zones, identifying the deceased, and uncovering the fate of the missing. The organisation stressed that these actions are critical not only for accountability but also to allow families to know the fate of their loved ones and ensure the dignified burial of the deceased.
Following the ceasefire, the Euro-Mediterranean's field teams documented the presence of decomposed bodies in Rafah and northern Gaza. In Rafah, local rescue teams retrieved 79 bodies, some of which were unidentifiable. The remains found were in various states of decomposition, with many bodies reduced to skeletal remains. These discoveries highlighted the urgent need for specialized equipment and teams to assist in the retrieval process, which is currently hindered by the lack of adequate tools and resources.
The organisation emphasized the suffering of families who have been waiting for news of their loved ones. Over 11,000 individuals are missing, with many believed to be buried under rubble or detained in Israeli prisons. The slow progress in recovering bodies and determining the fate of the missing is causing immense distress, which could be alleviated by the swift deployment of international teams equipped with the necessary resources to perform these tasks effectively.
The Euro-Mediterranean Monitor also called for the deployment of forensic experts to help identify the victims, particularly those whose bodies are too decomposed to be recognised. It highlighted that many of the victims could be people who have been forcibly disappeared, adding another layer of urgency to the situation. The lack of a coordinated international response risks prolonging the suffering and delaying the vital process of accountability.
Finally, the Monitor appealed for the International Criminal Court to send investigative teams to Gaza to conduct independent, thorough investigations. This would ensure the protection and documentation of evidence, gather testimonies from victims, and help hold those responsible for the ongoing genocide accountable. The international community was urged to act swiftly to support these efforts, as the lack of intervention could further escalate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.