In Gaza City, members of the Al-Drimli family are painstakingly searching through the debris of their former home to find the remains of a friend and neighbor. Using basic tools like shovels, buckets, and a wheelbarrow, they labor under the scorching sun, surrounded by the echoes of shovels hitting rubble and the hum of an electric saw.
Their efforts are focused on a six-storey residential building struck by an airstrike in November 2023. While the family has already recovered the remains of their loved ones, they are now seeking to locate a neighbor who was also present during the tragic incident.
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. With a scarcity of excavators in Gaza, many Palestinians, like the Al-Drimli family, rely on manual labor to search for the remains of those lost.
Ayman Al-Drimli mentioned to a freelance videographer that the high cost and limited availability of equipment force them to work with their hands. Officials and equipment operators in Gaza reveal that there are only a few operational excavators in the region, as the machines have been difficult to maintain due to frequent strikes during the conflict and shortages of essential supplies like oil and spare parts.
Samir Sabra and his son operate two of the remaining excavators in Gaza, facing challenges like exorbitant costs for fuel and maintenance. The ongoing struggle to keep the machines operational hampers their ability to meet the overwhelming demand for their services.
Despite the ceasefire agreement and promises of increased access to heavy machinery, the situation on the ground remains unchanged. Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defence, attributes the shortage of excavators to deliberate targeting during the conflict.
Efforts to recover bodies and clear rubble are further hindered by restrictions on fuel, oil, and spare parts imposed by Israeli authorities. Humanitarian organizations stress that these limitations impede the maintenance of crucial machinery required for various essential services. The United Nations and Civil Defence have called for urgent international intervention to facilitate the entry of necessary equipment into Gaza.
In the face of these challenges, Uday Sabra, alongside Civil Defence volunteers, persists in his search for remains at the debris site in Gaza City. Despite the arduous task ahead, he remains committed to providing closure and dignity to the deceased.
