Breeze blocks are used as tombstones at the Deir Al Balah cemetery in the central Gaza Strip. AFP
Breeze blocks are used as tombstones at the Deir Al Balah cemetery in the central Gaza Strip. AFP
Breeze blocks are used as tombstones at the Deir Al Balah cemetery in the central Gaza Strip. AFP
Breeze blocks are used as tombstones at the Deir Al Balah cemetery in the central Gaza Strip. AFP

'I buried 137 bodies in one day': Gaza gravediggers turn to mass burials


Nagham Mohanna
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Gaza gravedigger Saadi Al Hasan Al Sulaiman had to bury 137 bodies in a random mass grave in a single day, as the main cemetery reached its capacity.

“In a small space of six metres, I had to bury 45 bodies,” said Mr Al Sulaiman, 63, who has been in charge of the Deir Al Balah cemetery in central Gaza for decades.

“I buried 137 bodies in the mass grave,” he told The National on Friday. “I have never buried so many bodies in my whole life.”

With more than 10,800 people killed by Israel in less than five weeks, Gaza residents are resorting to mass graves. AFP
With more than 10,800 people killed by Israel in less than five weeks, Gaza residents are resorting to mass graves. AFP

More than 10,800 people, including at least 4,300 children, have been killed in Israeli strikes and shelling on the besieged Palestinian enclave since the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on October 7 that killed 1,400 Israeli soldiers and civilians.

In its quest to “eradicate” Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, Israel has hammered the Palestinian enclave, claiming it was hitting military targets but striking houses, tower blocks, ambulances, hospitals, schools and cars.

No one can know where their family is buried. All I can say is that we have mass graves of unknown bodies
Saadi Al Hasan Al Sulaiman,
overseer of Deir Al Balah cemetery in central Gaza

As the war entered its second month this week, most cemeteries are either full or inaccessible, so gravediggers and relatives of the dead have had to improvise.

Before Deir Al Balah cemetery reached capacity, Mr Al Sulaiman said he had buried hundreds of bodies there, mostly of children and women.

“We had at least 600 martyrs here to bury and then there was no space any more, no blocks, no cement. Nothing is left,” he said.

“No one can know where their family is buried. All I can say is that we have mass graves of unknown bodies.”

Bodies have piled up outside hospitals, on roads and in parks, in refrigerated lorries, and even in an ice cream van.

Mass burials have been authorised by clerics in Gaza.

Local authorities said they were inclined “to perform our rightful and moral duty toward those martyrs to bury them”, so they had prepared mass graves in multiple areas.

Residents told The National they are increasingly burying people in their backyards and farms.

“I offered my land to a family that lost relatives so they can bury their loved ones. They had nowhere else,” said one resident.

Mr Al Sulaiman, who has lived through several Israel-Hamas conflicts since 2006, said he never could have imagined the scenes of death he is witnessing now.

“I can't sleep – I can't close my eyes after all those children’s bodies I had to bury.”

Pathaan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Siddharth%20Anand%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20John%20Abraham%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
HEADLINE HERE
  • I would recommend writing out the text in the body 
  • And then copy into this box
  • It can be as long as you link
  • But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
  • Or try to keep the word count down
  • Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into 
  • That's about it
RESULT

Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds:
 Rodrigo (59')
Man City: Sterling (17')

Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)

Schedule
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENovember%2013-14%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20World%20Youth%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Championship%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENovember%2015-16%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbu%20Dhabi%20World%20Masters%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Championship%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENovember%2017-19%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20World%20Professional%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Championship%20followed%20by%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20World%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Awards%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Friday’s fixture

6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta

6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman

9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas

9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah

.

More from Armen Sarkissian
Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo

Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm

Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Price: from Dh498,542

On sale: now

Results

1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000

2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000

3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000

Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
%3Cp%3E%0DDeveloper%3A%20Ubisoft%20Bordeaux%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Ubisoft%0D%3Cbr%3EConsoles%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20Series%20S%26amp%3BX%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Updated: November 10, 2023, 5:59 PM