Israel-Palestine War: Thousands of people in Gaza have been unaccounted for as the dust settles on the Israel-Palestine conflict, considered one of the worst humanitarian crises of this decade. In the aftermath of the war, a report has been published by Al Jazeera that has alleged that over 2,000 Palestinians have been missing since October 2023. The family members of these missing Palestinians have told the Gaza Civil Defence that most of these disappearances are linked to the use of Thermobaric bombs. Authorities in Tel Aviv have not yet issued a response to the report.

What Are Thermobaric Bombs?

Thermobaric bombs, also called vacuum or aerosol bombs, are a category of munitions that use intense heat and pressure to evaporate the target rather than traditional shrapnel from the blast fragmentation. 

How Does Human Body Vapourise?

The human body is roughly composed of nearly 80 per cent water. According to Dr Munir al-Bursh, the director general of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, if a human body is exposed to energy exceeding 3,000 degrees combined with massive pressure and oxidation, the body fluids boil instantaneously. This leads to a vaporisation of the body tissues, turning them into ash.

ALSO READ: Israel-Gaza War: After 2024 Closure, Rafah Crossing Reopens; Survivors Report Delays, Alleged Mistreatment

All About Thermobaric Bombs

  • The bombs operate in a two-stage process, where in the first stage, a large cloud of flammable aerosol fuel is dispersed, which mixes with atmospheric oxygen. In the second stage, a secondary ignition creates a massive fireball and pressure wave, with temperatures reportedly reaching up to 3,500°C (6,332°F).

  • According to a Russian military expert, Vasily Fatigarov, the nature of thermobaric weapons does not just kill, they obliterate matter.

  • Israel’s use of such bombs has led to the fatalities of nearly 2,842 Palestinians since the war began in Gaza. 

  • The prolonged intensity of these bombs makes them a deadly weapon in enclosed spaces or urban spaces, leading to a high fatality rate in Gaza. 

  • These weapons, while not explicitly banned by international law, violate the principles of international humanitarian law. 

ALSO READ: Tragic: Gaza Father Digging Rubles For 2 Years For His Family's Bones; Belives He Found Remains Of His 'Unborn Baby'

Bombs Used In Gaza

According to the investigation conducted by Al Jazeera, the following Thermobaric bombs were used in Gaza:

  • MK-84: This 900kg unguided bomb packed with tritonal generates heat up to 3,500 °C.

  • BLU-109: The BLU-109, which is a bunker buster bomb, was reportedly deployed on the al-Mawasi area during the September 2024 strike.  It is built with a hardened steel shell and a delayed-action fuse that allows the bomb to burrow into structures or ground before exploding. 

  • GBU-39: The GBU-39 is a guided glide munition designed for high accuracy. It contains AFX-757 explosive and is engineered to limit structural collapse while maximising lethal effects inside a target.