Gaza authorities demand entry of personal protective equipment to dismantle unexploded Israeli munitions

By Mohamed Majed and Betul Yilmaz

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - Gaza’s Interior Ministry on Thursday urged authorities to allow the entry of personal protective equipment for its bomb disposal teams to safely dismantle unexploded ordnance left by the Israeli army in the enclave.

“We appeal to international relief organizations to allow access to personal protective equipment for bomb disposal teams who risk their lives and operate in poor conditions without any personal safety equipment,” it said in a statement.

A Palestinian expert was injured Wednesday when an ordnance exploded as he was trying to dismantle it in northern Gaza. Three teens were also wounded in another bomb explosion east of Jabalia town in northern Gaza.

The ministry called on Palestinian residents “to stay away from any objects or war remnants to maintain their safety."

There are no clear estimates about how many Palestinians were killed or injured by unexploded ordnance in Gaza.

A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, halting Israel’s brutal war that has killed over 48,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its military campaign.