The international humanitarian organization Handicap International said that Israel dropped 45,000 bombs on the Gaza Strip from October 7 until mid-January, and that at least 3,000 of them did not explode, which poses a threat to the residents of this besieged Strip.

Radio France Internationale quoted Jean-Pierre Delomier, Deputy Director of International Operations, as saying, “There are 3,000 bombs out of these 45,000 bombs that did not explode, and they will pose an additional danger to civilians when they return to the areas from which they were displaced, at a time when humanitarian aid must be distributed.” 

Delomier, who visited the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip during the current war, said that his organization is waiting for a ceasefire in Gaza in order to have a clear vision on this matter and begin the work of removing mines and bombs left by the war.

The Washington Post quoted Charles Burch, an explosive clearance expert at the United Nations Mine Action Service, as saying last December that Gaza is currently filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of unexploded ordnance, ranging from makeshift rockets to high-tech munitions provided by the United States. United for Israel, he added, "The pollution will be unbelievable, like something from World War II."

Risks for generations

Birch, who visited Gaza at the height of the Israeli bombing campaign, said that these unexploded ordnances may be the most widespread threat, because they will last long after the war, posing risks to civilians for generations. Even in times of relative peace in Gaza, bombs left over from previous rounds of fighting regularly killed and maimed, and the problem is now exponentially worse.

Yesterday, Monday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, more than 5 months after the Israeli war, with the death of more than 32,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 75,000.

This resolution - presented by non-permanent members of the Security Council - calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, stressing the urgent need to increase aid and demanding the removal of all obstacles to its delivery.