Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesman, Mahmoud Basal, has warned that over 71,000 tons of unexploded bombs and rockets now lie scattered across Gaza’s streets, turning every neighborhood into a potential death zone. The official said 60 million tons of rubble from Israel’s months-long bombardment conceal hidden munitions that continue to threaten civilians.
The statement paints a grim picture of a city buried under ruins and explosives. Basal urged international experts to assist in neutralizing the bombs, stressing that local rescue teams lack the equipment and expertise to handle the vast contamination safely. “Every step could be fatal,” he said, describing Gaza as a “minefield of devastation.”
Since October 2023, Israeli airstrikes have leveled entire districts, leaving behind one of the most concentrated urban wreckages in modern conflict. The danger now extends far beyond the fighting, with unexploded ordnance killing civilians returning to their homes or searching for belongings under debris. Civil Defense units have already reported multiple deaths during clearance efforts.
The humanitarian cost is staggering. Children and families navigating the ruins face daily risks of hidden explosions, while hospitals many themselves damaged struggle to treat new victims of the same war that supposedly ended. International aid agencies warn that reconstruction is impossible until the explosives are cleared, a process that could take decades under siege conditions.
UN bodies and rights groups have echoed Basal’s appeal, calling on Israel to allow urgent de-mining missions under UN supervision. So far, access remains blocked, and the bombs remain buried beneath Gaza’s shattered neighborhoods, a silent continuation of war threatening every step toward recovery.
