In Gaza City, members of the Al-Drimli family are using basic tools like shovels, buckets, and a wheelbarrow to search for the remains of their friend and neighbor amidst the debris of their collapsed home. The intense midday sun beats down on the men as they work quietly, their heads shielded by orange towels or sweatshirt hoods. The clatter of shovels against rubble and the hum of an electric saw echo through the air.
They load the dusty wheelbarrow with debris and transport it to a nearby heap, a small effort compared to the massive piles of broken cinder blocks and metal rebar left behind after a six-story residential building was struck by an airstrike in November 2023.
Having already found the remains of their own family members, the Al-Drimli family is now searching for a neighbor who was with them when the building was destroyed. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 bodies remain buried under the rubble nearly three years after the conflict between Israel and Hamas began.
Due to the scarcity of excavators in Gaza, many Palestinians, like the Al-Drimli family, are forced to rely on manual labor due to the high cost and unavailability of equipment. Ayman Al-Drimli mentioned to a CBC News freelance videographer that they have no choice but to work with their hands.
Heavy equipment operators in Gaza confirm that there are only around twelve barely functional excavators in the region. Samir Sabra, who operates two of these excavators with his son Uday, highlighted the financial challenges of maintaining the machinery due to expensive oil costs and a lack of spare parts.
Despite the ceasefire agreement reached last October, which included provisions for more heavy machinery to assist in clearing rubble and roads, the situation on the ground remains unchanged. Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defence, expressed concerns about the prolonged effort required to recover bodies if the current limitations persist.
The restrictions imposed by Israel on fuel, oil, and spare parts have hindered humanitarian efforts in Gaza, impacting the maintenance and operation of critical machinery. Civil Defence has urged the international community to take action to facilitate the entry of machinery into the region to expedite recovery efforts.
The ongoing challenges and limited resources have led to a slow and arduous process of recovering remains and rebuilding in Gaza. Uday Sabra, committed to his mission, continues to dig through the rubble, determined to bring closure to the families of the deceased.
