Gaza: On the second day of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Gazans started the somber task of searching through the ruins for survivors and bodies, as the 15-month conflict has left the region in shambles. The ceasefire, which began on Sunday, facilitated the release of hostages by both sides, with three from Hamas and 90 Palestinians from Israeli detention.
The devastation following the war has shifted focus towards the monumental task of rebuilding Gaza, which was heavily damaged after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in 1,200 deaths and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals, leading to a brutal military response from Israel that has left more than 47,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Emergency Services, highlighted the grim reality, “We are searching for 10,000 martyrs whose bodies remain under the rubble.” He also noted the tragic loss of at least 2,840 bodies that were so severely affected by the conflict that no traces remain.
The war’s impact on the local population was starkly described by Mohamed Gomaa, a displaced resident who lost family members, saying, “It was a big shock, and the amount (of people) feeling shocked is countless because of what happened to their homes – it’s destruction, total destruction. It’s not like an earthquake or a flood, no no, what happened is a war of extermination.”
With the ceasefire allowing for increased aid, markets began to see activity again. Aya Mohammad-Zaki, another displaced resident from Gaza City, now in Deir Al-Balah, commented on the immediate benefits, “The prices have gone down, the war is over and the crossing is open to more goods.” The ceasefire agreement stipulates that 600 truckloads of aid, including 50 with fuel, must enter Gaza daily, with half directed to the famine-threatened north.
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Despite the truce, there have been minor breaches. Medics reported eight injuries from Israeli fire in Rafah, and the Israeli military acknowledged firing warning shots at suspects near their positions.
Emily Damari, one of the hostages freed during the initial exchange, took to Instagram to express her relief, “I have returned to life, my loved ones…I am the happiest in the world, to just be.”
In the West Bank, the reunion of families was emotional as Nidaa Zaghebi, recently released, was reunited with her children. She shared her joy and the pain of separation, “I used to dream of them every night, and imagine what they were doing.”
The rebuilding process in Gaza is daunting, with a U.N. assessment estimating that clearing the 50 million tonnes of debris might take 21 years and cost $1.2 billion. Another U.N. report suggests that rebuilding homes could extend well into 2040 or beyond, with the added challenge of asbestos contamination in some areas. A U.N. official lamented that the conflict has set back Gaza’s development by 69 years.
Israel’s stated objective in the conflict was to dismantle Hamas and its underground tunnel network.
