A young man with curly hair trembles as he looks at the destroyed home of his friend. Holding his rain-spotted iPhone, he pleads for a response from his friend Ahmed in a video shared on social media.
Another man, searching for his children, crawls over concrete debris, calling out for Salma and Said. Emotions run high as he breaks down, questioning why this tragedy has befallen them.
Amid the rubble, a man frantically searches for his wife and children, Rahaf and Aboud, wondering what they have done to deserve such a fate.
Gaza has turned into a massive graveyard, with destroyed buildings serving as tombs for those still trapped within.
The latest estimate from the health ministry suggests around 7,000 people are missing in Gaza, with many more likely unaccounted for since November. The situation is dire, with bodies buried hastily, decomposing in unreachable locations, or lost amidst the chaos and conflict.
The remaining individuals are likely trapped under the rubble, adding to the already devastating death toll in Gaza.
Since the conflict erupted on October 7, the number of destroyed buildings has increased, leading to numerous search-and-rescue operations. The hope of finding survivors dwindles as rescuers often uncover bodies days, weeks, or even months later.
Despite the grim reality, families cling to hope for a miracle, as the ongoing violence and obstacles make it challenging to recover the deceased.
Efforts to locate missing loved ones are hindered by limited resources, with Gaza facing restrictions on essential equipment needed for rescue operations.