Work begins to remove Gaza neighbourhood's 140,000 tons of rubble

Work has begun to clear 140,000 tons of rubble in the Shuja’iyya neighbourhood of Gaza City, more than three months after the end of so-called ‘Operation Protective Edge’.

Described by The Associated Press as “the first large-scale project” of its kind since the end of hostilities, the work is being funded by a $3.2 million donation from Sweden.

According to Palestinian Minister of Public Works Mufeed al-Hasayneh, Israel’s 50-day assault left some 2.5 million tons of rubble across the Gaza Strip.

While some 100,000 buildings sustained damage during the fighting, including 18,000 housing units entirely destroyed, the Shuja’iyya district was particularly badly devastated.