Jon Donnison

Families in Gaza continue searching for relatives who disappeared during Israel’s military campaign, with more than 5,000 missing-person tracing requests submitted to the Red Cross and Gaza Civil Defence estimating that over 8,000 people remain missing. Some may be buried under rubble, while others may have been detained by Israeli forces. Recovering and identifying remains is hampered by widespread destruction, limited heavy equipment, a lack of DNA testing, and restrictions on supplies entering Gaza. Palestinian families say Israeli authorities often fail to disclose arrests or detention locations, while Israeli agencies cite wartime security concerns and did not confirm whether two missing men profiled by the BBC are in custody.

Families in Gaza continue searching for relatives who disappeared during the war, with more than 5,000 tracing requests received by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Gaza's Civil Defence estimating that over 8,000 people remain missing. Many may be buried under rubble, while others may have been detained by Israeli forces without their families being notified. The cases of Ahmed al Madhoun and Mahmoud al Drimli illustrate the anguish caused by uncertainty, as identification of remains is hindered by destruction, limited DNA testing and restrictions on equipment and access. Rights groups say Israel's detention system has become increasingly difficult to investigate, while Israeli authorities cite wartime security grounds and deny arbitrary detention claims.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Donald Trump’s 15-point Gaza plan, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is genuinely and completely disarmed. Hamas says it remains committed to the agreement but conditions the handover of heavy weapons on an end to Israeli attacks and a withdrawal from Gaza. Trump peace-plan envoy Nickolay Mladenov argues that the proposal provides a verifiable, reversible, phased process and urges Israel to give it a chance. Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right coalition partners to take a harder line ahead of Israel’s election, further complicating diplomacy. The rejection threatens a plan that envisioned Hamas disarmament, an Israeli withdrawal, Gaza reconstruction and oversight by a proposed Peace Council, amid extensive displacement and a high death toll from the war.