Gaza residents turn war rubble into homemade wind turbines for electricity

In Khan Yunis camp, a makeshift workshop hums with the sound of wind-powered electricity. Kamal Al-Dabary, a former engineering student turned inventor, has harnessed scrap metal and debris from the war-torn streets to create homemade wind turbines. According to the World Bank, over 90% of Gaza's power generation and distribution infrastructure was destroyed in April 2026 during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

With solar panels now costing nearly £20,235 each, Al-Dabary turned to the wind as a solution for his fellow displaced Palestinians. Using scooter motors and old water tanks as blades, he built a system that captures the sea breeze to generate electricity. This power is stored in batteries and used to charge phones, run lights, and even power small medical devices.

For families who have lived in tents for years, this technology has made a significant difference. Al-Dabary, known locally as Abu Ayman, says, "It's changed everything" for his community.