Israel’s ‘Vanishing’ Palestinians: Investigation Reveals Use of Thermal & Thermobaric Weapons in Gaza

Gaza City – An Al Jazeera investigation has revealed disturbing allegations concerning the widespread use of advanced weaponry by Israeli forces in Gaza, resulting in the apparent disappearance of thousands of Palestinians during the ongoing conflict. The investigation, published on February 10, 2026, details claims that thermal and thermobaric munitions, often referred to as vacuum or aerosol bombs, are responsible for the complete disintegration of victims, leaving behind minimal identifiable remains.

The report, titled “The Rest of the Story,” documents at least 2,842 cases of Palestinians classified as “evaporated” since the commencement of hostilities in October 2023. These cases are defined by the absence of recoverable bodies, with only traces of blood spray or small fragments of flesh remaining at the sites of impact. The findings are based on documentation collected by Civil Defence teams operating within the Gaza Strip.

According to the investigation, the weapons employed are capable of generating temperatures exceeding 3,500 degrees Celsius (6,332 degrees Fahrenheit). Experts cited in the report suggest that such intense heat effectively vaporizes organic matter, explaining the lack of traditional remains. The munitions identified include US-supplied bombs such as the MK-84, BLU-109 bunker buster, and the GBU-39 precision-guided munition.

Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Gaza civil defence authority, described a “method of elimination” used by his teams to assess casualties. This involves comparing the known number of occupants within a targeted building with the number of intact bodies recovered. “If a family tells us there were five people inside, and we only find three complete bodies, we consider the other two as ‘evaporated’ after a thorough search yields nothing but biological traces – blood splatters on the walls or small fragments like pieces of scalp,” Bassal explained to Al Jazeera.

The personal account of Yasmin Mahani illustrates the devastating consequences of these alleged weapons. Mahani recounted searching for her son, Saad, in the ruins of the al-Tabin school in Gaza City following an Israeli strike on August 10, 2024. She found her husband in distress, but of Saad, there was no trace. “I went into the mosque and found myself stepping on flesh and blood,” Mahani told Al Jazeera Arabic. Despite days of searching hospitals and morgues, no remains of her son were ever found, leaving her with the agonizing uncertainty of not even having a body to bury.

Russian military expert Vasily Fatigarov explained the destructive power of thermobaric weapons, stating they not only kill but “eliminate matter.” Unlike conventional explosives, these weapons disperse a cloud of fuel that creates a massive fireball and a vacuum effect. Fatigarov specifically cited the US-made MK-84 bomb, weighing 900 kilograms and containing tritonal, as capable of generating heat up to 3,500 degrees Celsius. The BLU-109 bunker buster, he added, creates a large fireball within enclosed spaces, incinerating everything within its range.

The GBU-39, according to the report, was reportedly used in the attack on Al-Tabin school. Fatigarov stated that this weapon is designed to “kill through shockwaves that damage the lungs and thermal waves that burn soft tissues.” Civil Defence authorities confirmed the discovery of fragments of GBU-39 munitions at locations where Palestinians have been classified as “evaporated.”

The Al Jazeera investigation raises serious legal and ethical questions regarding the use of these weapons and the potential for violations of international humanitarian law. Diana Buttu, a lawyer and lecturer at Georgetown University in Qatar, suggested that the responsibility extends beyond Israel to include Western nations supplying the munitions. “This is a global genocide, not just a genocide by Israel,” Buttu stated.

The allegations come amidst a conflict that, as of February 13, 2026, has resulted in the deaths of more than 72,000 people, according to reports. The investigation highlights the devastating and often invisible consequences of modern warfare and the challenges of documenting casualties in a conflict zone.