In Gaza City, at the heart of the devastation, members of the Al-Drimli family are engaged in a solemn task. Using basic tools like shovels, buckets, and a wheelbarrow, they are meticulously sifting through the debris of their former residence to locate the remains of a friend and neighbor. Despite the scorching midday sun, the men toil in silence, their faces shielded by orange towels or sweatshirt hoods, while the air resonates with the clinking of shovels and the whirring of an electric saw.
Their efforts are focused on a six-storey residential building that bore the brunt of an airstrike back in November 2023. The family has already retrieved the bodies of their loved ones from the site and is now striving to find their neighbor, who was seeking refuge with them during the tragic incident.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 bodies remain trapped under the rubble nearly three years after the conflict between Israel and Hamas commenced. Due to the scarcity of excavators in Gaza, many Palestinians, including the Al-Drimli family, must resort to manual labor to locate and recover the deceased.
Ayman Al-Drimli explained to a freelance videographer that the exorbitant cost and scarcity of equipment compel them to rely on manual techniques. Reports indicate that Gaza currently has only a handful of barely functional excavators, as maintaining these machines has become increasingly challenging due to a lack of spare parts and fuel shortages, exacerbated by the equipment being frequently targeted during the conflict.
One of the few operational excavators in Gaza is owned by Samir Sabra and his son, Uday Sabra. However, the prohibitive cost of running the excavator poses a significant financial burden. Uday expressed the overwhelming demand for their services, emphasizing the inadequacy of their equipment to address the extensive destruction in the region.
Despite the ceasefire agreement last October, the situation on the ground remains bleak, with limited access to heavy machinery hindering the recovery efforts. The Palestinian Civil Defence spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, highlighted the deliberate targeting of heavy machinery during the conflict, further complicating the already challenging task of clearing debris and retrieving remains.
The ongoing border restrictions imposed by Israel, particularly on fuel, oil, and spare parts, have impeded the maintenance and operation of crucial machinery in Gaza. Humanitarian organizations and the United Nations have underscored the urgent need to facilitate the entry of essential equipment to expedite the recovery process.
As Uday continues his painstaking work at the site, he remains committed to providing closure to the families of the deceased by diligently combing through the rubble until every last body is recovered.
