Gaza faces danger from unexploded ordnance after extensive damage: WP
4 Min Read
The danger extends to small explosive devices resembling toys, and even large bombs buried deep can pose threats during reconstruction, causing many to be killed long after a conflict concludes.
-
Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 (AP Photo)
A report by the Washington Post detailed that the Gaza Strip not only has faced extensive damage due to the Israeli immeasurable bombardment but also the prospects of becoming a danger zone due to unexploded ordnance, including makeshift rockets and high-tech munitions, which could take years and tens of millions of dollars to clear.
The war on Gaza has displaced 80% of Gazans, with significant challenges in rebuilding infrastructure and homes. The pervasive threat of unexploded ordnance poses ongoing dangers, complicating recovery efforts, the report says.
"The contamination will be unbelievable, like something from World War II," Charles Birch told WashPo, an explosives clearance expert for the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) who was in Gaza at the height of the bombing campaign.
Read more: Israeli airstrikes massacre Gazans in school, residential buildings
Addressing the displacement is an enormous undertaking, given that buildings have been demolished or rendered structurally unstable. Infrastructure, crucially for water and sewage, has suffered extensive damage. The use of various weapons, including the contentious incendiary white phosphorus, is a concern as it may lead to contamination of the water supply.
With complete disregard for post-war reconstruction plans, "Israel" continues to undertake its genocidal campaign in Gaza, costing the lives of over 16,000 civilians.
The prevalence of unexploded ordnance emerges as a highly significant threat. Even in periods of relative calm in Gaza, lingering bombs from prior Israeli aggressions consistently result in martyrs and injuries.
Unexploded ordnance, a lasting consequence of war, poses enduring risks to civilians. Whether intentional or due to failures to detonate, these remnants continue to be unearthed in war zones, necessitating evacuations.
The danger extends to small explosive devices resembling toys, and even large bombs buried deep can pose threats during reconstruction, causing many to be killed long after a conflict concludes.
Expert groups, including UNMAS, estimate that around one in 10 munitions may fail to explode, though rates vary by weapon type and are influenced by factors such as storage conditions, weather, and target characteristics.
"You’re going to have higher rates of failure in an urban setting because a lot of ammunition types will have a soft landing through a roof first, then multiple stories," James Cowan, who leads the HALO Trust, a nonprofit that clears land mines, told WashPo.
Read more: Khan Younis evacuation warning a continuation of genocide: PIJ
Clearing the city's deteriorating high-rises, and narrow alleyways would require a meticulous and time-consuming process. Some debris piles reach a height of 100 feet, and using controlled surface detonations to remove ordnance poses the risk of setting off buried explosives.
Weapons used in Gaza are often designed with delayed fuses, making them prone to underground or within-building detonations, posing challenges in locating them if they fail.
"Israel" has not disclosed specific figures on the munitions used, with Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant mentioning the dropping of 10,000 bombs on Gaza City in November, a claim not independently verified.
Experts suggest the destruction of heavy infrastructure points to the use of large bombs like the 2,000-pound Mark 84, retrofitted with the US-supplied JDAM system for precision.
Brian Castner of Amnesty International notes instances of failure in these weapons during "Israel's" aggression on Gaza, despite them not having a known high failure rate.
US lawmakers have expressed criticism toward the Biden administration, citing a perceived lack of transparency regarding the quantity of weapons sent to the Israelis. This stands in contrast to the clearer disclosure of military aid provided to Ukraine.
"We’ve got no idea what’s there," said Birch of UNMAS.
Concerns have also been raised about the wide use of other types of weaponry, including precision weapons like the Israeli-produced Spike missile series.
Read more: UN official says ‘apocalyptic’ situation in southern Gaza blocking aid
Gaza's interior ministry disposal squad faces uncertainty in terms of resources and functioning after the war.
It is worth noting that "Israel" is not a party to the 2003 Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War, an international agreement aimed at limiting the impact of unexploded ordnance.
