In Gaza City, members of the Al-Drimli family are tirelessly excavating the remains of a friend and neighbor from the debris of their former residence. Utilizing basic tools like shovels, buckets, and a wheelbarrow under the scorching midday sun, the men silently toil away amidst the clanging of shovels and the hum of electric saws.
Despite the limited availability of excavators in Gaza, the family persists in their manual search for the missing neighbor, who was present during the building’s destruction by an airstrike in November 2023. The Gaza Health Ministry estimates that approximately 8,000 to 10,000 bodies still lie buried under the rubble nearly three years after the conflict between Israel and Hamas began.
Facing the high costs and scarcity of equipment, Ayman Al-Drimli explained to a freelance videographer that they rely on manual labor due to the unaffordability and unavailability of machinery in the region. With only a handful of barely operational excavators remaining in Gaza, the demand for heavy equipment far exceeds the limited supply.
Samir Sabra and his son, Uday Sabra, operate two of the few functioning excavators in Gaza, highlighting the challenges they face in maintaining the equipment due to exorbitant costs and a shortage of essential resources. Despite the ceasefire agreement last October that promised increased access to heavy machinery, the reality on the ground remains unchanged, prolonging the arduous task of retrieving bodies trapped beneath the rubble.
The Palestinian Civil Defence, responsible for coordinating rescue efforts, emphasizes the critical need for additional machinery to expedite the recovery process. However, border restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on essential supplies such as fuel, oil, and spare parts continue to impede humanitarian efforts, further complicating the already daunting task of clearing debris and recovering remains.
As Uday Sabra continues his painstaking excavation work in Gaza City, the ongoing struggle to access necessary resources underscores the urgent plea for international intervention to facilitate the recovery and closure for the victims and their families.