The Heartbreaking Realities Faced by Israel's Body Collectors: Stories that Leave Them in Tears

Editors Note: The following story includes graphic material. Audience discretion is advised.

Yanir Ishay has thrown away three boxes of cigarettes in the past two weeks.

He mentioned detecting a scent of death on them, as he had been keeping the packets in his pockets while retrieving human remains from the locations of Hamas terror attacks in southern Israel. However, his wife disclosed that they were actually fresh and recently purchased.

"Upon that revelation, I came to the understanding that the smell was a figment of my imagination, not originating from the box," he recounted to CNN.

Ishay is among a group of 120 male volunteers who are part of ZAKA, a religious search and rescue organization. Their mission is to recover the bodies of individuals who were killed near the Israel-Gaza perimeter by Hamas militants on October 7. Israeli authorities report that over 1,400 people lost their lives in this attack.

As a result, Israel initiated a war against Hamas, launching airstrikes on Gaza. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, citing sources within the Hamas-controlled enclave, has reported that these airstrikes have claimed the lives of more than 6,850 Palestinians.

Weeks on, as the war continues to rage, ZAKA volunteers are still collecting remains.

Volunteers from Israeli volunteer-run emergency rescue service ZAKA search through debris in Be'eri, a kibbutz near the border with Gaza, on October 20, 2023.

Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

Snir Elmalih, a longtime member of ZAKA, expressed his disbelief at the unimaginable scenes witnessed at a cemetery in Ashdod. He stated that despite all the preparations and experience, they had never anticipated anything of this nature. According to Elmalih and fellow volunteers, the victims of the massacre included entire families, young children, infants, and even pregnant women. They described the horrifying condition in which the bodies were discovered - mutilated and burned.

Emily Hand, 8, was killed during Hamas' attack in Be'eri on Saturday.

Courtesy Tom Hand

The close-knit kibbutz that became home to a massacre

ZAKA has extensive experience in Israel and globally, providing assistance in the aftermath of terrorist attacks, accidents, and disasters. Comprised mostly of devout Orthodox Jewish men, their objective is to ensure that every person, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their death, receives a fitting Jewish burial.

Elmalih emphasized, "We firmly believe that the utmost respect for the deceased is just as, if not more, crucial than the respect we show the living. The significance of burial resonates deeply with us, as even God participated in the burial of Moses."

Elmalih worked at a cemetery in Ashdod, a city located about 20 miles north of the Gaza Strip, on a Friday morning. Every day, the number of freshly dug graves in the burial grounds keeps increasing as more victims are identified and laid to rest. Due to the high number of bodies received in the past two weeks, Elmalih had to arrange for additional refrigerated storage.

While Elmalih was getting ready for another funeral, Yossi Landau, one of the founding members of ZAKA, visited to greet him and deliver a care package. After spending a few minutes chatting, they embraced each other.

Landau, chief of the groups southern command, says he tries to provide emotional support for his men, but the trauma cuts deep and there is only so much he can do to help.

Yossi Landau greets Snir Elmalih at his office in Ashkelon, Israel, on Friday, October 20, 2023.

Ivana Kottasová/CNN

"I possess a deep understanding of them surpassing anyone else. From the measurement of their footwear to the moment they rise in the morning, I am aware. It is within my knowledge to discern their troubles, discern when assistance is required, and recognize when it is necessary for them to withdraw," he disclosed to CNN.

The devastating consequences of the assault are so horrific that only ZAKA's highly skilled volunteers are permitted to participate in the retrieval of bodies.

Even for them, it often becomes overwhelming. "Everybody sheds tears," Eli Landau, a volunteer and son of Yossi, expressed to CNN in Beeri, one of the neighboring kibbutzim communities that bore the brunt of the rampage by Hamas militants. The IDF reports that at least 130 out of the 1,100 residents were tragically killed, with dozens more being taken captive.

"You can shed tears, and everyone will empathize. It's not a topic I desire to discuss, and with this group, verbal communication is unnecessary. We share a deep understanding," expressed Eli Landau.

Last Friday, alongside fellow ZAKA volunteers, he revisited homes in Beeri to meticulously search for additional victims and retrieve any residual remains that were overlooked during the initial visit.

Einav Moshe Barda (center) attends a gathering of family members of hostages taken by Hamas in Tel Aviv on Saturday, October 14, 2023.

Ivana Kottasová/CNN

Its so lonely: Desperate families of Israeli hostages are still in the dark a week on from Hamas rampage

In Jewish tradition, it is essential for the entire body to be buried. As a result, volunteers diligently scour various locations in order to locate even the tiniest fragments of the victims' remains and any signs of blood.

"We must ensure that the full body, including any blood that has been separated from it, is collected. That is why our task is not complete. We will revisit each and every community to thoroughly cleanse all traces of blood, allowing for proper burial," Elmalih clarified.

It is a task that is increasingly challenging as time passes. "These volunteers are confronted with the most difficult aspects of war. They witness the scenes, experience the smells, and are exposed to horrific sights," Elmalih remarked.

While ZAKA volunteers were working in Beeri, multiple buses filled with foreign journalists arrived, accompanied by the IDF. Yossi Landau stood in front of them, repeatedly recounting his initial observations upon arrival, addressing inquiries, and occasionally taking pauses to compose himself. He stated that he has dedicated himself to spreading the message.

Eli's son, standing at a distance, wept. "I truly do not understand his repetitive behavior. He is fixated on discussing this matter endlessly. It is highly likely that he will lose his sanity. This is detrimental to his well-being and cannot possibly benefit anyone's spirit," he expressed.

Eli Landau looks towards a house destroyed by Hamas in Be'eri on October 20, 2023.

Ivana Kottasova/CNN

ZAKA volunteers Yanir Ishay, Yitzhak Ben-Shibrit, and his son Aharon devoted their Sunday to the daunting task of retrieving the bodies of those who perished near the Gaza border fence. Despite receiving protection from the military, the team found themselves targeted by Hamas rockets with no shelter to seek refuge. Aharon Ben-Shibrit shared a video with CNN depicting the volunteers lying on the ground as the rockets soared above them.

The job is dangerous - physically and mentally.

"The mental side is worse though," Ishay said. "When you die, you die, theres nothing after that. Its different with your mind," he said.

Ishay expressed full trust in his fellow volunteers, not only in handling challenging scenes but also in recognizing the need for him to take a break. As a result, he decided to take a day off last week after spending his birthday attending to the deceased. According to him, the experience was overwhelming.

The majority of ZAKA volunteers admit that they have yet to fully process the emotional impact of the trauma they encounter. Therefore, when they have the opportunity to step away, they prefer not to dwell on those thoughts.

"We disconnect ourselves from the world. You come to the field, you start working and nothing else matters. You get home and then start crying," Yitzhak Ben-Shibrit said.