A recent investigative report has claimed that Israel used powerful vacuum and thermobaric bombs in its military operations in the Gaza Strip, generating intense heat that made the recovery of many bodies impossible. The allegation has drawn global scrutiny as the conflict, which started in October 2023, continues with heavy casualties and widespread destruction.
The investigation, discussed in multiple international news sources, highlights how certain munitions with fuel-air explosive properties can create extreme temperatures and intense pressure waves. These effects allegedly left no identifiable remains of some victims at strike sites, with only small fragments or traces of blood found.
What Are Vacuum or Thermobaric Bombs & How Do They Work?
“Vacuum bombs,” also called thermobaric or aerosol weapons, use a two-stage explosion:
- They disperse a cloud of fuel or fine particles into the air.
- Then they detonate it, creating a huge fireball and vacuum effect that draws in surrounding air.
Experts describe how this blast can produce temperatures of up to 3,500 degrees Celsius, far hotter than conventional explosives. Metals such as aluminium, magnesium, and titanium are often added to enhance heat resistance and pressure resistance. These conditions can destroy human tissue and structures in ways that leave little behind to identify or bury.
Reported Use of Specific High-Heat Munitions in Gaza
The investigation named several types of weapons allegedly used by Israel that the United States supplies:
- MK-84 “Hammer” – a large bomb packed with a tritonal explosive mix that can generate very high temperatures.
- BLU-109 Bunker Buster – designed to penetrate reinforced structures before exploding.
- GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb – a precision-guided bomb that can disperse intense heat inside buildings.
Civil Defense teams in Gaza reportedly found fragments of GBU-39 components at sites where people disappeared after strikes, suggesting their use at locations including school facilities and populated shelters.
Thousands of Palestinians ‘Evaporated’ With No Bodies Found
According to documentation by Gaza Civil Defence, at least 2,800 people have been classified as “evaporated” since the start of the conflict. This classification means that after thorough searches of rubble and morgues, no intact remains were found, and only biological traces such as blood spray or tissue fragments were recovered.
Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal explained that rescue teams rely on a method of elimination. If family members confirm people were inside a building before a strike, but only a few bodies are retrieved afterwards, the missing individuals are presumed “evaporated” after extensive searching yields only trace evidence.
One tragic example cited in the reports was the search for loved ones at the site of an attack on al-Tabin school in Gaza City, where families found no bodies to bury despite their relatives being present before the strike.
Scientific and Medical Explanation of the Weapon Effects
Dr Munir al-Bursh, director general of the Gaza Health Ministry, explained that human bodies are mostly water, and any exposure to temperatures above 3,000 degrees Celsius combined with massive pressure can cause tissue to vaporize into ash within seconds.
Military analysts and investigators say such weapons are designed not just to destroy buildings but to create intense overpressure and heat that can obliterate everything in confined spaces, potentially explaining why bodies and personal effects are sometimes absent after strikes.
International Law, Allegations, and Responses
Legal experts quoted in the investigation argue that using weapons that cannot distinguish between combatants and civilians may amount to war crimes under international law. They also point to the role of weapon suppliers, asserting that continued transfers of such munitions implicate not just the user but the global community in accountability debates.
The findings have revived debates at international forums over conduct in the Gaza conflict, especially after courts such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued directives linked to actions in the region, including arrest warrants against Israeli officials and provisional measures related to alleged acts amounting to genocide.
Human Toll and Continued Conflict
The war in Gaza has already caused massive human suffering, with total reported fatalities surpassing 72,000 since October 2023. Many families continue to grapple with loss, trauma, and uncertainty, especially when no physical remains can be recovered for burial or mourning.
Experts and observers warn that even as fighting persists, independent investigations and transparency are essential to assess the full impact of such weapons and to address human rights concerns raised by international law and humanitarian organizations.
