Around 70,000 tons of unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants remain scattered across Gaza, posing a continuing threat to civilians, according to Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal.

He said more than 200,000 tons of explosives have been dropped on the Strip since the start of the Israeli genocide, while roughly 90% of Gaza’s explosives engineers have been killed, leaving severe shortages of trained personnel and heavy equipment.

Basal added that an estimated 50–60 million tons of rubble may be contaminated with explosive remnants, some hidden inside homes, streets and debris or disguised as ordinary objects such as cans and children’s toys.