Gaza: residents continue clean up after Israeli military offensive

Hundreds of volunteers have taken to the streets of Gaza for the third day running to help the local authorities to clear the rubble in the wake of Israel’s eleven-day bombardment of the occupied Palestinian territory.

The “We Will Rebuild It” campaign started on Monday at the site of what was the Shorouq Building, one of Gaza City’s oldest tower blocks that was levelled by Israel during its latest military offensive. Local residents, civil society groups and trade unions have mobilised for the clean-up.

Palestinian footballer Hassan Al-Raei told Anadolu that people are cleaning the streets to send a message of “defiance and resilience” to the whole world. “The Palestinians do not accept defeat or breakdown,” he said, “so everyone is taking part to remove the effects of the Israeli offensive.”

Yahya Al-Sarraj, the head of the municipal authorities in Gaza, said that the Israeli occupation deliberately targeted the enclave’s civil infrastructure, including roads and the electricity, sewage and water networks. Hundreds of homes and residential buildings, including a number of tower blocks, were also destroyed by the Israeli bombardment.

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