Defiant in Gaza's rubble, rescuers dig as danger, hunger close in

GAZA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- For Mahmoud Magdi Hassouna, a rescuer with Gaza's Civil Defense for five years, every distress call signals a perilous race against time, and often death itself.

The 32-year-old from the Shuja'iyya neighborhood east of Gaza City, accustomed to handling fires and traffic accidents before the conflict erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, now faces collapsing buildings, explosions, and severe equipment shortages amidst relentless Israeli airstrikes and bombardments that have devastated neighborhoods.

Gaza-based health authorities on Wednesday reported 61,722 Palestinians killed and 154,525 wounded by Israeli strikes since October 2023, apart from a great number being displaced.

They also reported eight more deaths from famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, including three children, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths to 235, including 106 children.

Hassouna, like many, lost his home to bombings and now lives with relatives. Each morning, he bids farewell to his pregnant wife, acutely aware of the risks.

"I lost relatives in the various bombings, and I saw whole neighborhoods reduced to rubble," he told Xinhua. "But every extra minute in the field could mean a life saved."

One memory haunts him: Responding to an airstrike in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, he heard a child's faint cry, "help me... I'm here."

"The boy, named Ibrahim ... We did our best to pull him out, but the narrow spaces and the lack of specialized equipment slowed the team's efforts," Hassouna recalled. "Minute by minute, I could hear his breathing weaken. Each passing minute was painful."

Hours later, the team reached Ibrahim, but he had died. "Covering him with a blanket felt like burying my own son," he said with a breaking voice, adding that "it was very hard to imagine his fears and hopes that he would be rescued at the same time."

Raed al-Dahshan, director of the Civil Defense in Gaza City, frequently joins rescue operations himself. After a night explosion in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood, he dug with his bare hands alongside residents, pulling a mother and child alive from debris. However, three other family members perished that night.

Al-Dahshan's two homes were also destroyed, forcing his family of 10 into repeated displacement. "Each time, my children would ask me if I would come back that day. I couldn't promise them," he said.

The war has rendered large parts of Gaza uninhabitable, with districts flattened, infrastructure collapsed, and hospitals overwhelmed. Meanwhile, the months-long Israeli blockade severely restricts fuel, spare parts, and heavy equipment, crippling rescue efforts.

Acute food shortages affect rescuers and civilians alike. Some Civil Defense personnel often work extended hours sustained by little more than dry bread, dates, or canned food from aid. Hunger, a constant companion, especially during prolonged operations, increases danger.

"Sometimes we work more than 16 hours without real food, knowing someone is waiting for us in the dark," Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told Xinhua. "Crews drink water when they can find it and take brief rests before returning to clear debris. Hunger affects concentration and movement, but we adapt."

Besides, rescue teams often operate under direct threat, facing incidents where workers are targeted, forcing retreats until danger subsides. Some sites have been bombed multiple times.

According to Civil Defense figures, over 111 members have been killed since the conflict began, some in direct strikes while on duty, and dozens have been injured. Around 85 percent of rescue vehicles have been destroyed or damaged, with a lot of protective gear and tools lost. Some victims remain trapped in inaccessible areas due to ongoing shelling or destroyed roads.

Basal said the repeated sight of victims, many of them children and women, has inflicted deep psychological scars upon the rescuers, who he said need urgent mental health support.

Despite the immense challenges, Hassouna, al-Dahshan, and Basal all draw motivation from saving lives.

"Our work is not just a profession; it is a humanitarian and moral duty," Hassouna said. "When we succeed in pulling someone alive from under the rubble, it feels like life has triumphed over war, even if just for a moment."

Al-Dahshan said he believes adequate resources and an end to the conflict will enable more timely and safer rescues. "With proper equipment, we could double the number of lives saved," he said.

For Basal, the hope lies in global recognition of their role in preserving humanity amid destruction. "We keep going because stopping is not an option," he said.  ■