Gazans Dig Through Rubble for Bodies, Survivors Amid Ongoing Israeli Strikes

Photo : AP

Mohammed Alloush, a Palestinian from the northern Gaza Strip, rushed to his relatives' house in Jabalia on Sunday after hearing it had been attacked by the Israeli army. Upon arriving, he was horrified to discover that the home, once filled with more than 50 residents, had been completely destroyed.

Alloush, along with dozens of his neighbors, could hear cries for help coming from beneath the rubble. Some people were still alive, and Alloush knew they needed urgent help. However, neither he nor any of the responders had any tools at hand. "We are forced to dig with our bare hands to help the injured and pull out the dead as possible as we can," Alloush, 35, said in a trembling voice. He was holding the lifeless body of a child in his arms.

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The situation was extremely dangerous. The Israeli army had previously struck the area, and Alloush feared that further airstrikes could occur at any moment. But despite the risk, he and his neighbors continued to race against time to rescue those who were still alive and recover the dead. "We have to bury the dead in place and transfer the injured to Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals, which are both out of service, using donkey carts," Alloush added.

Earlier that day, the Israeli army killed at least 36 members of Alloush’s family in an attack on their house in the Jabalia refugee camp, according to local sources and medical reports. This attack was part of Israel's ongoing military offensive in Gaza, which began on October 5. Israel has stated that its operations aim to dismantle Hamas and prevent the group from regrouping in the area.

Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, explained that the Israeli military had forced the Civil Defense teams to leave the area, trapping many residents in their homes. Meanwhile, Israel’s large-scale military operations have resulted in thousands of Palestinian casualties. According to Gaza-based health authorities, the death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 43,600, with over 102,900 others injured. In northern Gaza, more than 1,800 people have been killed, about 4,000 wounded, and hundreds remain missing.

The ongoing military offensive is a response to a deadly Hamas raid in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during which 1,200 Israelis were killed, and around 250 were taken hostage. The Palestinian authorities continue to report devastating losses and widespread destruction.

Rescue operations in Gaza City have been extremely difficult. Despite the efforts of Civil Defense teams, the damage from Israeli airstrikes has left rescue workers struggling to reach those in need. On Saturday night, at least five Palestinians were killed in an attack on the home of the al-Khour family in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood west of Gaza City. 

Mohammed Doghmosh, a 25-year-old Palestinian, recounted his own efforts to rescue survivors. "It was very hard for the ambulances and Civil Defense to reach the area quickly, so I decided to use my hands to rescue the survivors and pull out the dead to bury them in the early morning," Doghmosh said. He and his friends used mobile phone flashlights to see through the debris and recover those trapped beneath the rubble. "All the time, we are in a race against death, war, and time. So, we have to take the mission into our own hands and help each other as best we can," he added.

The situation in Gaza continues to be dire, with communities enduring extreme hardships as they grapple with the aftermath of the ongoing conflict. Many residents, like Alloush and Doghmosh, are relying on their own strength and limited resources to survive and help others in need, as the humanitarian crisis deepens with each passing day.