Palestinian emergency teams are searching for thousands of people feared buried under rubble in Gaza as residents confront widespread destruction in the wake of a 15-month war between Israel and Hamas.
The ceasefire, which began Sunday, marked the end of a conflict that has devastated the Gaza Strip and stoked tensions across the Middle East. The truce included the release of the first three hostages held by Hamas and 90 Palestinians from Israeli prisons. However, the devastation left behind remains a sobering challenge for residents and officials alike.
“We are searching for 10,000 martyrs whose bodies remain under the rubble,” said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Emergency Services. He added that over 2,800 bodies were incinerated to the point where no remains could be recovered.
The war, which began after Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, claimed 1,200 Israeli lives and led to the abduction of around 250 hostages into Gaza, according to Israeli authorities. Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ensuing conflict.
Displaced resident Mohamed Gomaa, who lost family members, described the devastation as unparalleled. “It’s not like an earthquake or a flood. This is a war of extermination,” he said.
The ceasefire has largely held, with only sporadic incidents reported. Medics in Rafah, a southern city in Gaza, said eight people were hit by Israeli fire on Monday, though their conditions remain unclear. The Israeli military stated it was investigating the claims.
Rebuilding Gaza is expected to require billions of dollars, with the scope of destruction rivaling the worst disasters. A United Nations assessment estimates clearing the over 50 million tonnes of rubble from Israeli airstrikes could take 21 years and cost $1.2 billion. Reconstructing homes could take until 2040 or longer, the UN said.
Complicating recovery efforts, debris from destroyed buildings may contain asbestos, a hazardous material used in some older structures, including refugee camps struck during the conflict.
Israel maintains its campaign was aimed at dismantling Hamas and its extensive underground tunnel networks. Yet the scale of destruction has left Gaza in ruins, posing monumental challenges for its 2.3 million residents and international aid organizations tasked with rebuilding.
The ceasefire offers a temporary reprieve, but the path to recovery and peace remains fraught with uncertainty and immense logistical challenges.
