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Paper short abstract:

Since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect, the internally displaced Gazans have just one thought on their mind: returning to the north, finding the bodies of their loved ones and giving them a dignified burial. This paper examines how these Gazans navigate this process.

Paper long abstract:

The recent 15-month Israeli war on Gaza (2023-25) has led to unfathomable levels of death and to a massive indescribable destruction in Gaza. Official counts point to 46,707 Gazans killed and over 11,160 are missing or buried under the rubble. The war has also left 90% of Gaza’s population internally displaced and more than 80% of buildings in ruins. When the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect on 19 January 2025, those displaced to the south of Gaza have been returning to the north; to their homes, now mostly destroyed, and to their dead who still lie beneath the rubble. The one thought they have on their mind is to find the bodies of their loved ones and give them a dignified burial. Only now the grieving can begin, or as one mother put it “now we can grieve.” For 15 months, there was no space for grieving and mourning; the fear of imminent death consumed every moment. Based on UN reports, first-hand journalists’ reports from Gaza, digital ethnography (Gazans’ testimonies on social media), this paper examines how the Gazans navigated death and its aftermath—finding the bodies of their loved ones and giving them a dignified burial. It argues that Gazans have experienced unspeakable pain and carry the burden of caring for those who have survived and for those who are buried under the rubble.