The Impossible Struggle to Demine Gaza
When an Israeli quadcopter drone dropped an explosive that didn’t immediately detonate, Walaa thought her family was safe. The 30-year-old mother of five and her family were sheltering in Gaza City after fleeing the Israeli army’s bombardment of their home in Beit Hanoun. Without warning, the object exploded, killing Walaa’s husband, children, and six other […]
An Israeli drone dropped an unexploded bomb in Gaza City, killing a mother of five, her five children, and six other relatives, leaving Walaa, a survivor, severely injured and disfigured. She spent five months receiving treatment at a hospital strained by medical shortages, despite the ceasefire agreement signed a year earlier. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that explosive hazards remain prevalent in Gaza, even a year after the ceasefire.
Walaa's fear for everyday objects stems from the ongoing danger of unexploded bombs. As of August, at least 274 people have been killed and 1,134 injured in 580 accidents involving explosive objects in Gaza, averaging ten casualties per week since the war started. Children are particularly at risk, as they often mistake weapons for toys.
International demining teams lack authorization to enter Gaza and remove the explosives, as Israel refuses to allow its recovery until Hamas disarms. This refusal prevents humanitarian organizations like the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) from performing comprehensive explosive ordnance disposal activities. The UNMAS reports that 90% of those injured by explosives are civilians, mainly children, due to their tendency to mistake weapons for toys.
The lack of funds for demining efforts in Gaza, compared to resources allocated to countries like Cambodia or Laos by the US, exacerbates the situation. Despite the US spending over $20 billion on military aid to Israel from 2023 to 2025, it does not subsidize the removal of unexploded bombs.
Written by urgent.news from Mother Jones's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
