Gaza Civil Defense Reports 200,000 Tons of Explosives Dropped, 70,000 Tons Remain as Unexploded Ordnance

Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesperson reported that over 200,000 tons of explosives have been dropped on the Gaza Strip since the beginning of Israeli military operations, with approximately 70,000 tons remaining as unexploded ordnance that poses an ongoing threat to civilians ^[1][2][3].

The accumulation of unexploded munitions has created a severe humanitarian hazard compounded by catastrophic losses in bomb disposal capacity. According to the Civil Defense statement, approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s explosive ordnance disposal engineers have been killed, creating a critical shortage of trained personnel capable of detecting and safely handling unexploded devices ^[1][2][3].

The Civil Defense faces additional operational constraints that have hampered response efforts. The organization lacks heavy equipment necessary to manage high-explosive ordnance, while the locations of many munitions remain unknown and are only discovered after civilians report them ^[1][2][3].

The hazard extends beyond visible ordnance. War debris is dispersed throughout rubble, homes, and streets, and unexploded munitions can take deceptive forms – resembling metal cans, juice bottles, or children’s toys – that place civilians at risk of death or injury upon contact ^[1][2][3]. According to reports, between 50 and 60 million tons of rubble in Gaza is believed to be contaminated with explosive remnants, creating a continuous danger to both civilians and civil defense personnel ^[1][2][3].

The scale of the ordnance problem underscores the long-term infrastructure and security challenges facing Gaza as humanitarian organizations attempt to restore basic services and enable population movement across the territory.