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 a neighbor in the wreckage of their former home. Despite the scorching sun overhead, the men carry out their somber task quietly, clad in orange towels or sweatshirt hoods. The clanging of shovels against rubble and the hum of an electric saw resonate in the air as they laboriously move debris from the six-story residential building struck by an airstrike in November 2023.
Having already found the bodies of their own family members, the Al-Drimli family now seeks to locate their missing neighbor, who had sought refuge with them during the building’s destruction. 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.
Facing a scarcity of excavators in Gaza, many Palestinians must rely on manual labor due to the high cost and limited availability of heavy equipment. Ayman Al-Drimli explained to a freelance videographer that they resort to using their hands because machinery is prohibitively expensive and hard to come by in the region. Currently, there are only around a dozen partially operational excavators in Gaza, as stated by officials and equipment operators, who emphasize the challenges of maintenance and scarcity of essential resources like parts, oil, and fuel.
Samir Sabra and his son, Uday Sabra, operate two of the few working excavators in Gaza, highlighting the significant costs involved in running and maintaining the equipment. The elder Sabra expressed concerns over the lack of maintenance, spare parts, and overall equipment availability, making it challenging to meet the demand for their services. Despite their efforts, the father-son duo struggles to keep up with the continuous requests for assistance in retrieving bodies trapped beneath the debris.
The Palestinian Civil Defence, a group of volunteer first responders, collaborates with individuals like Uday Sabra to excavate sites, search for survivors, and recover bodies. However, due to the limited number of functioning excavators and ongoing maintenance issues, progress is slow in clearing rubble and locating victims. Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal attributed the shortage of excavators to deliberate targeting during the conflict, pointing out the lasting impact on recovery efforts.
In response to the pressing need for heavy machinery, humanitarian organizations and the United Nations have raised concerns about Israeli restrictions on fuel, oil, and spare parts, hindering critical maintenance and recovery operations in Gaza. Despite a ceasefire agreement that included provisions for increased access to heavy equipment, little progress has been made on the ground. Basal warned that without adequate resources and support, the process of retrieving bodies from the rubble could extend over many years.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) justified their policies regarding heavy equipment entry into Gaza, citing security considerations and directives from the government. While fuel deliveries occur daily through international organizations, the challenges persist for organizations like the Civil Defence in accessing essential resources for their operations. Uday Sabra remains dedicated to his grim task, continuing to excavate the rubble in Gaza City in search of closure for the deceased.