In the heart of Gaza City, members of the Al-Drimli family are painstakingly searching through the debris of their former home to find the body of their neighbor. Using basic tools like shovels, buckets, and a wheelbarrow, they work under the scorching sun in silence, surrounded by the clanging of shovels and the buzz of an electric saw.
Their efforts are focused on retrieving the remains of a neighbor who was seeking refuge with them when their six-story residential building was struck by an airstrike in November 2023. Despite already finding the bodies of their loved ones at the site, the family continues their search.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, there are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 bodies still buried under the rubble almost three years after the conflict between Israel and Hamas began. With a severe shortage of excavators in Gaza, families like the Al-Drimlis are left to rely on manual labor due to the high costs and limited availability of equipment.
Ayman Al-Drimli explained to a freelance videographer that the family has no choice but to work with their hands as heavy machinery is scarce and expensive in the region. Currently, there are only about a dozen barely functional excavators in Gaza, with maintenance and operational costs posing significant challenges.
Samir Sabra, who operates two excavators in the strip, highlighted the financial strain of maintaining the equipment, citing the high costs of essential resources like oil. Despite the demand for their services, Sabra and his son struggle to keep up due to the lack of equipment and spare parts.
The limited availability of heavy machinery in Gaza has led to delays in clearing rubble and recovering remains. Mahmoud Basal of the Palestinian Civil Defence pointed out that excavators were targeted during the conflict, exacerbating the shortage. Efforts to increase access to heavy equipment have been hindered by restrictions on fuel, oil, and spare parts imposed by Israel.
Despite the challenges, Uday Sabra, working alongside the Civil Defence, continues his search for remains in Gaza City. The ongoing scarcity of heavy machinery and equipment prolongs the arduous task of recovering bodies from the rubble, with no immediate relief in sight.
