Amid the mountains of rubble left behind by the war in the Gaza Strip, displaced Palestinians are searching for anything that might give them a chance to survive. Using rudimentary tools like hammers and metal cutters, they dismantle the remains of destroyed homes to extract iron rods buried beneath the debris. These rods are then straightened and reshaped for reuse in building tents, temporary shelters, and other basic necessities.
In places that were once homes to Palestinian families, the rubble has now become a crucial source of construction materials. These materials are increasingly difficult to obtain due to widespread destruction across residential neighborhoods, severe supply shortages, and soaring prices.
Manual Labor Born of Necessity
Mohammed Al-Kafarneh, who was displaced from the city of Beit Hanoun, works clearing rubble from bombed-out homes that are no longer fit for habitation. The property owners want the sites cleared so they can put up a tent or build a temporary shelter.
Because heavy machinery is either unavailable or too expensive to hire, workers rely entirely on basic equipment. They break through the debris with hammers and metal cutters to reach the buried iron rods. Once extracted, the workers begin the arduous process of straightening and reshaping the metal so it can be repurposed for construction.
Al-Kafarneh describes the work as exhausting, but stresses it has become an absolute necessity amid the harsh living conditions.
“This work is extremely difficult, but we are forced to do it given the difficult circumstances. I was injured during the war, but I have no choice but to work to earn a living and provide a decent life for my family,” he says.
Finding Alternatives Amid Blockades
The circumstances created by the war have forced Gaza’s residents to search for alternatives to almost everything they need. Zaid Al-Matouq, displaced from the Jabalia Refugee Camp, explains that the prolonged conflict, closed border crossings, and strict restrictions on the entry of prefabricated shelters and building supplies have left Palestinians with no choice but to mine the rubble for iron.
The salvaged metal is highly versatile; beyond building shelters, it is also being used to craft basic household items like beds and tables. With heavy machinery out of reach, manual labor remains the only viable option for these workers.
“We use basic tools such as hammers to extract iron from beneath the rubble. We then straighten the rods so they can be reused, to tell the world that the people of Gaza know no such thing as impossible,” Al-Matouq says.
Iron Replaces Scarce Wood
The use of salvaged iron has also become an alternative to other materials that are now scarce or prohibitively expensive. Bilal Al-Masri, a displaced Palestinian from northern Gaza, notes that skyrocketing wood prices have pushed people to rely on iron instead of wood to frame their temporary shelters.
This overwhelming need for iron has extended beyond individuals to the very groups trying to help them.
“Amid the war, rising wood prices and shortages, displaced people have turned to iron to build their tents instead of wood. Even international organizations have increasingly turned to iron during this period to establish displacement camps,” Al-Masri explains.
He adds that while retrieving the buried iron requires strenuous effort, it has become a vital means for many workers to earn a living and put food on the table during this severe humanitarian and economic crisis.
A Cycle of Destruction and Resilience
The war in Gaza has caused catastrophic damage to homes and infrastructure, forcing massive numbers of Palestinians to flee in search of safety. As the desperate need for shelter continues, clearing rubble and recycling its materials have become a routine part of daily life.
Materials that were once integral parts of a family’s home have, after their destruction, become raw resources that residents seek to recover and repurpose. In Gaza, the story of a home does not end when it is destroyed. What remains is transformed by displaced Palestinians fighting to salvage and rebuild—a stark reflection of a reality imposed by war.