As Gaza endures the devastating aftermath of Israel’s 16-month-long assault, international legal and human rights organisations have established a dedicated centre to track missing persons and those forcibly disappeared. With the war displacing, injuring, or killing over 250,000 Palestinians, the crisis of the missing has reached alarming levels.

Ghazi Al-Majdalawi, lead researcher at the Palestinian Centre for Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons, describes the initiative as a national reference for documenting cases, advocating for justice, and supporting families. "We are working to preserve the rights of the missing and push for accountability both locally and internationally," he explains. With over 14,000 individuals unaccounted for, the centre is developing a specialised digital database to systematically collect and verify information.

Beyond documentation, the initiative provides legal assistance to families seeking justice and demands the disclosure of those held in Israeli prisons or buried in unknown locations. The centre is also collaborating with international bodies, including the Red Cross and UN committees, to pressure Israel into revealing the fate of the missing.

Despite the challenges of working in a war-ravaged territory, Al-Majdalawi remains determined: "Our goal is to uncover the truth, hold those responsible accountable, and secure justice for victims and their families."