In Gaza City, members of the Al-Drimli family are painstakingly sifting through the debris of their former home, searching for the remains of a neighbor who was with them during an airstrike in November 2023. With limited resources and equipment, they rely on shovels, wheelbarrows, and their hands to excavate the rubble under the scorching sun.
Having already recovered the bodies of their loved ones, the family now focuses on finding their missing neighbor. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, there are still an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 bodies buried under the wreckage 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 compelled to undertake the grueling task manually. Ayman Al-Drimli explained to freelance videographer Mohamed El Saife that the high cost and lack of available equipment leave them with no choice but to use rudimentary tools for the search.
Samir Sabra and his son, Uday Sabra, operate two of the few functioning excavators in Gaza. However, the exorbitant cost of running the machines, coupled with maintenance challenges and a shortage of spare parts, hampers their efforts to meet the overwhelming demand for their services.
Uday Sabra, working alongside the Palestinian Civil Defence volunteers, highlighted the continuous struggle to keep up with the increasing number of requests for their assistance due to the large number of casualties trapped beneath the debris.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defence, revealed that heavy machinery in Gaza was deliberately targeted during the conflict, further exacerbating the shortage of equipment for recovery operations. Despite promises of increased access to machinery post-ceasefire, little progress has been made on the ground.
The ongoing restrictions imposed by Israel on essential supplies like fuel, oil, and spare parts hinder humanitarian efforts and prolong the process of recovering remains. The international community has been urged to intervene and facilitate the entry of vital equipment to expedite the recovery process.
While challenges persist, individuals like Uday Sabra remain committed to their mission, tirelessly digging through the rubble to provide closure to families and honor the memory of the deceased.
