SAFA - As Palestinians continue to endure the Israeli genocide in Gaza, another deadly threat is claiming victims long after airstrikes end. Unexploded bombs and military remnants scattered beneath the rubble of destroyed homes and across refugee camps are continuing to injure civilians, turning neighborhoods into hidden minefields.

Recent weeks have witnessed a rise in explosions caused by unexploded Israeli ordnance left behind during the Israeli genocidal war. The blasts have left civilians with life-changing injuries and renewed fear among families already struggling to survive.

For many residents, the ground beneath their feet has become as dangerous as the skies above, with children particularly vulnerable while playing near the ruins of bombed buildings.

Days ago, a new tragedy struck Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza when a suspicious object believed to be unexploded Israeli military ordnance detonated while several civilians were nearby. The explosion injured multiple people, including two young brothers. One child lost a hand, while both children suffered severe wounds, becoming the latest victims of unexploded weapons left behind by the Israeli military.

“The children were playing near the rubble of destroyed homes,” an eyewitness told Safa News Agency. “They found a strange piece of metal and thought it was a toy or part of the debris. Seconds later, a powerful explosion shook the area.”

“We no longer fear only Israeli airstrikes,” the witness added. “Sometimes we fear every step our children take because death is hidden beneath the ground.”

Mohammad Al-Zarqa, spokesperson for Gaza Police, said there is currently no comprehensive record of those killed by unexploded ordnance. However, he told Safa News Agency that the overwhelming majority of reported cases involve injuries, with no fewer than five people injured each month after accidentally triggering or handling unexploded military remnants.

Al-Zarqa said police and security authorities are focusing on public awareness campaigns to reduce the risks posed by unexploded objects. He added that accurate figures on the number of unexploded bombs remaining across Gaza are unavailable because many are located inside military closure zones, known locally as the “Yellow Line,” where specialized teams cannot safely operate.

The warnings come as the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has repeatedly warned that tens of thousands of bombs and projectiles dropped during the Israeli genocide have left behind a vast quantity of unexploded ordnance. 

UN assessments state that these remnants still pose a threat to civilians and have turned a sizable portion of Gaza into dangerous areas that will need years to be cleared by specialized international teams before they are safe for locals.