SAFA — Thousands of Palestinians killed during Israel’s war on Gaza remain buried beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings across the Gaza Strip, Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal said Tuesday.

Bassal said Israeli forces continue demolition and rubble-clearing operations at destroyed buildings and facilities while the bodies of Palestinians remain trapped beneath the debris.

He said Gaza’s Civil Defense lacks the heavy machinery and equipment needed to reach and recover the bodies, while restrictions on access to affected areas continue to hinder recovery efforts.

Bassal called for the bodies to be recovered and given dignified burials in accordance with humanitarian principles and international law.