Even Gaza’s dead struggle for peace as war leads to shortage of graves

As the war in Gaza enters its 22nd month, life in the enclave is a daily struggle not only for survival, but also for dignity in death. With bombardment, displacement and a lack of basic essentials, Palestinians are further anguish due to a shortage of graves.

Scarce construction materials, restricted access or destruction of graveyards by the Israeli military, as well as the mounting number of bodies, have prompted Palestinians to improvise novel and desperate ways to lay their loved ones to rest, sometimes on top of each other.

Cement, stone and tiles are in short supply and cemeteries are overwhelmed. Many families have taken to burying bodies in their gardens at home, on school grounds or in public spaces, often in hastily dug sandpits without proper grave coverings or protection.

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“It’s one of the most painful things in war, to not be able to provide even a grave for your loved ones,” said Sufyan Al Shurabji, 56, a resident of the Shujaiya neighbourhood who lost his nephew Muadh and family in an Israeli air strike on Gaza city.

Due to the inflated cost of a resting place, he had no option but to bury all five in one grave, stacked on top of each other. “Instead of mourning the martyr, you’re overwhelmed by the challenge of finding a grave, a cemetery, a final place of rest," he added.

He had been told a single grave would cost 1,100 shekels ($330) in cash. “That meant we needed about 5,000 shekels just to bury them properly,” Mr Sufyan said. “But in this war, people are penniless. We searched for free graves through charitable initiatives but everything had run out.

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“We usually bury our dead in the family cemetery in Shujaiya but it’s now inaccessible due to the presence of occupation forces. We were forced to bury them in a new cemetery in western Gaza.”

An official from Gaza's Ministry of Endowments told The National that the shortage stems from a lack of construction materials due to strict controls on imports by Israel. Without these materials, families are unable to bury their loved ones in accordance with Islamic rites.

“Since the beginning of the war, the occupation has targeted cemeteries, completely or partially destroying about 40 across various areas of the Gaza Strip,” the official said. “In addition, access to many cemeteries within military-controlled zones is blocked.”

Refuge in burial sites

Some Palestinians displaced from their homes have sought refuge in burial sites, setting up tents inside or near cemeteries, further reducing burial space, the ministry added.

Authorities have been working with volunteers to address the crisis by constructing makeshift graves, using mud and reclaimed stone from bombed-out homes. Zinc sheets are being used instead of traditional tiles to cover the graves. But these efforts are inadequate.

“The crisis is escalating due to the extreme shortage and inflated cost of materials,” the ministry official said. "Preparing a single grave now costs between 700 and 1,000 shekels, an unbearable expense for families already devastated by war.

“Currently, we have no ready graves available for burying martyrs. Many are forced to lay their loved ones in open pits, exposing bodies to the risk of being disturbed by stray animals.”

The ministry recently issued an urgent appeal to Arab and Islamic nations, as well as charities to support its campaign called Ikram, or Dignity, an initiative to build more burial sites.

Hani Abu Mousa, a humanitarian worker in southern Gaza, said his team usually focused on delivering food and water in the enclave. But in recent weeks, their efforts have shifted.

“We’ve been receiving increasing pleas from families asking for help securing graves for their loved ones,” he told The National. “Initially, we responded by providing graves on land allocated by the Ministry of Endowments in western Khan Younis. But those filled quickly as the number of martyrs grows daily.”

Efforts to construct more graves have been thwarted by shortages of materials, he added. Volunteers have resorted to using makeshift alternatives including zinc sheets, wood and iron to cover bodies and protect them from animals.

“It’s heart-breaking," Mr Abu Mousa said. "Even in death, there’s no peace here.”