For more than a year, Ashjan Abdel Aal and her family have been trapped in a painful limbo, searching for her two missing sons, Othman and Sami, who disappeared on June 29, 2025, in Gaza City. The brothers, aged 17 and 13 at the time, left their displaced family home to visit an aid distribution point but never returned, leaving their family desperate for answers.
Disappearance Amid War and Displacement
The Abdel Aal family was among thousands forced to flee their homes during the intense conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in over 73,340 deaths and widespread devastation. Ashjan, her husband Rafaat, and their children had taken refuge with relatives in Gaza City by April 2025. The dire conditions of hunger, soaring prices, and shortages compelled many residents, including the boys, to risk dangerous journeys to obtain food and aid.
On the day the boys vanished, Rafaat was away at a U.S.-backed aid distribution site in northern Gaza. Upon his return, he learned that Othman and Sami had not come back from their trip near the Netzarim Corridor, where they had planned to collect aid and possibly visit their old home in the Shujayea neighborhood. The family’s search began immediately, with Rafaat visiting hospitals, shelters, and relatives, but no trace of the boys was found.
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Conflicting Leads and Lingering Hope
Over the following months, the family received conflicting and heartbreaking reports. A local resident claimed to have seen unidentified bodies near their former home, and a photo circulated of a body at al-Ahli Arab Hospital resembling Othman. However, none of these leads could be confirmed. After a ceasefire agreement in October 2025, Rafaat visited the devastated Shujayea area but found only rubble and fragments, with no sign of his sons.
Despite ongoing efforts through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and human rights organizations, the family has not obtained definitive information. The psychological toll has been immense, with Rafaat admitting to moments of despair where he considered requesting official death certificates despite lacking proof of their fate.
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In May 2026, a new but unverified report brought a flicker of hope: a lawyer claiming to work with human rights groups suggested the boys might be alive and detained in Israeli prisons. This information, however, was never officially confirmed, and attempts to contact the lawyer failed. Ashjan holds onto hope, driven by dreams and memories of her sons’ kindness and closeness.
Wider Crisis of Missing Persons in Gaza
The Abdel Aal family’s ordeal reflects a broader crisis in Gaza, where an estimated 11,200 people remain missing amid the conflict. Many are believed to be trapped under rubble or have unknown whereabouts. Nada Abu Aita, director of the Palestinian Centre for Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons, highlights the challenges in documenting disappearances due to multiple conflicting sources and the emotional strain on families.
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Families often face uncertainty that prevents them from grieving or moving forward, clinging to any information, even from unofficial or unverifiable sources. The lack of comprehensive detainee lists from Israeli authorities exacerbates this problem, leaving families vulnerable to misinformation.
Efforts and Obstacles in Tracing Missing Persons
The ICRC plays a key role in tracing missing persons by collecting detailed information from families and sharing confirmed updates. However, spokesperson Pat Griffiths notes that the organization has not had access to Israeli detention facilities since the war began in October 2023, limiting its ability to verify detainee information.
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For those believed killed, forensic identification is slow and complicated, often delaying closure for families. Griffiths emphasizes the unique pain of living in uncertainty and the importance of providing families with answers, whether to reunite or mourn.
For Rafaat and Ashjan Abdel Aal, the ongoing search is a cycle of hope and despair. Rafaat expresses a desire to end the uncertainty, saying, “I want to know.” Ashjan pleads for clarity: “If they are dead, tell us. If they are alive, tell us.” Their story underscores the profound human cost of conflict and the urgent need for transparency and support for families of the missing in Gaza.
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