In Gaza City, members of the Al-Drimli family are engaged in a somber task of searching for a neighbor’s remains in the debris of their former residence. With basic tools like shovels, buckets, and a wheelbarrow, they painstakingly sift through the rubble under the scorching midday sun. The clanging of shovels and the hum of an electric saw echo in the air as they work in silence.
Their efforts are focused on locating a neighbor who was present in their home during the airstrike that razed the six-storey building in November 2023. Despite having already found and laid to rest their own loved ones, the family continues the grim search. The Gaza Health Ministry estimates that thousands of bodies may still be trapped beneath the rubble nearly three years after the conflict between Israel and Hamas began.
Due to a severe shortage of excavators in Gaza, families like the Al-Drimlis are compelled to rely on manual labor, as heavy machinery is both costly and scarce. Ayman Al-Drimli emphasized the challenges of acquiring equipment due to high prices and limited availability in an interview with CBC News.
Samir Sabra and his son, Uday Sabra, operate two of the few functioning excavators in Gaza. The exorbitant cost of maintenance, particularly for fuel, poses a significant financial burden. The scarcity of spare parts and ongoing fuel shortages further compound the challenges faced by equipment owners in Gaza.
Despite the high demand for their services, the Sabras struggle to keep up with requests for their excavators. Uday Sabra highlighted the overwhelming need for more equipment to address the extensive damage and destruction across the region.
Mahmoud Basal, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defence, noted that heavy machinery in Gaza was deliberately targeted during the conflict. Basal emphasized the urgent need for additional excavators to expedite the recovery process.
Border restrictions imposed by Israel, including limitations on fuel, oil, and spare parts, have hindered maintenance efforts for critical machinery in Gaza. Humanitarian organizations have raised concerns about the impact of these restrictions on essential services, including the clearance of debris and recovery operations.
The United Nations has highlighted the adverse effects of restricted access to heavy equipment on recovery efforts in Gaza. Civil Defence has urged the international community to facilitate the entry of machinery to accelerate the search for remains buried under the rubble.
Despite the challenges and limitations, individuals like Uday Sabra persevere in their mission to provide closure to families by retrieving the remains of those lost in the conflict. Their dedication embodies the resilience of Gaza’s communities in the face of ongoing hardships.