It was the crack of dawn when Mu’ayyad Ajjour and his neighbor Mohamed Zaida commenced their daily search in Gaza City. Following the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas starting in October, the duo has been scouring the wreckage of the building where Ajjour’s five-year-old cousin, Masa, and her family sought refuge.
Ajjour, aged 37, secured ropes to a black mixing dish while Zaida, 17, ventured into a deep cavity within the debris that he had excavated. With limited tools at their disposal, they ingeniously fashioned a pulley system. Their routine involved Zaida pulling the dish through the tunnel, filling it with rubble, and signaling Ajjour to sift through it using a fan cover.
Amid the eerie silence, only the faint sound of the dish scraping against the rubble echoed. The building, a three-story structure struck by an airstrike in March 2024, loomed precariously above Zaida. Despite the unstable tunnel propped up by concrete blocks, he persisted in the hopes of uncovering any trace of the child.
Masa’s tragic fate represents just one of the countless individuals believed to be entombed beneath the debris of demolished structures throughout the region after years of conflict. As the fragile truce prevails in Gaza, families are fervently attempting to locate their loved ones utilizing whatever rudimentary tools they can gather to provide them with a dignified burial.
On a Saturday morning, searchers contacted Masa’s mother and grandfathers in a flurry, announcing the discovery of a skull and clothing matching Masa’s features. The retrieved remains, including a skull with strands of hair, a ruby earring still adorning her ear, and a tattered pink sweater, were reverently wrapped in a white blanket.
Karim Al-Suwaireki, Masa’s maternal grandfather, expressed his astonishment upon identifying her remains, stating, “Thank God we identified Masa.” Ajjour, a member of the search party, described the moment as profoundly emotional, likening it to a scene that would move even stones, as they finally located the young girl, enabling them to accord her a proper farewell.
In the wake of the ceasefire, Ajjour and Zaida have been tirelessly excavating the rubble of a decimated building in Gaza City daily, seeking closure for Ajjour’s young cousin, Masa, who perished when the structure succumbed to an Israeli airstrike in March 2024. Masa, alongside her parents, fell victim to the devastating assault, with her father sustaining gunshot wounds and her mother recuperating at a nearby hospital after losing her unborn child.
With unwavering dedication, Ajjour and Zaida have dedicated their days to scouring the site from dawn till dusk. Prior to locating Masa’s remains, their progress had been minimal due to the lack of appropriate equipment.
The pair articulated their commitment to the search, acknowledging the arduous task ahead. Ajjour’s discovery of a white shoe, possibly belonging to Masa, instilled a renewed sense of hope, underscoring their determination to press on in their quest for closure.
Amidst the ongoing efforts to clear the debris in Gaza City, the United Nations Development Program initiated operations to restore essential services by removing rubble obstructing access. The extensive cleanup operation, involving heavy machinery and continuous work on reopening roads, is anticipated to span several years given the substantial volume of debris left in the aftermath of the conflict.
As the day drew to a close in Gaza City, Zaida emerged from the tunnel, joining Ajjour in a moment of reflection amidst the dust and perspiration. Ajjour’s poignant sentiments underscored his sole desire to lay Masa to rest in accordance with divine will, lamenting the innocent child’s tragic fate.
Days later, Ajjour stood amidst the remains of Masa, concluding the poignant search for the young girl, a poignant reminder of the war’s toll. His thoughts lingered on Masa’s missing father as he vowed to continue the search, hoping for a semblance of closure for the bereft family.