Man in Gaza Loses 39 Family Members in Israeli Strike

Mahmoud Khalla, a 40-year-old man from the Gaza Strip, is enduring profound grief after losing his entire family during Israeli attacks. On December 21, 2023, their five-story family home in Jabalia, northern Gaza, was targeted by an Israeli strike. The attack claimed the lives of 39 people, including Mahmoud's wife, his three children, his parents, his two brothers and their families, his sister and her children, and other relatives.

Mahmoud had left his home shortly before the strike to search for provisions. When he returned, he found their house completely destroyed and realized he was the only survivor of his family. He spent months recovering and burying his family's remains with his own efforts.

Highlights

• Mahmoud Khalla lost 39 relatives in an Israeli strike on his family home in Jabalia on December 21, 2023.
• He was the sole survivor, having left the house to search for food shortly before the attack.
• For months, Mahmoud was homeless and alone, sleeping in streets or abandoned vehicles.
• Following a ceasefire announced in October 2025, he spent three months personally recovering and burying his family's remains.
• Mahmoud maintains a daily routine of visiting his family's graves at a nearby cemetery.

Details

Mahmoud Khalla recalls that on the day of the attack, Israeli tanks had surrounded the area near their home, and food was scarce due to the ongoing siege. He left to find provisions and heard a massive explosion about 15 minutes later, realizing their home had been hit. He and his neighbors attempted to rescue anyone under the rubble, but continuous Israeli air attacks and surveillance drones made rescue efforts impossible. Ambulances and civil defense teams were also unable to reach the site that night.

Mahmoud expressed the immense difficulty of his family's remains being trapped under the rubble. Despite seeking help from civil defense and the Red Cross, he received little assistance due to a severe shortage of equipment and a high volume of requests. Consequently, with the voluntary help of friends and neighbors, he began the heartbreaking task of recovering his loved ones' remains himself. This arduous process took three months, with the remains having been entombed for approximately 29 months. He first found two relatives who had been sheltering with the family, and last found his sister and her children, who were buried together. He laid them to rest in a cemetery near Jabalia an-Nazla in northern Gaza.

Why it matters

Mahmoud Khalla's story vividly illustrates the devastating impact of the conflict in Gaza on civilians and the profound individual losses experienced. In an environment where thousands are displaced, have lost families, and struggle to access basic necessities, the trauma and loneliness faced by survivors highlight the scale of the humanitarian crisis in the region. Mahmoud's personal effort to bury his family members symbolizes the enduring human dignity and the desire to bid farewell to loved ones, even in the face of overwhelming despair.