As a fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza, the war's lethal legacy lies buried beneath the rubble, with experts warning that clearing the enclave of unexploded Israeli munitions could take up to 30 years.

The humanitarian organization Humanity & Inclusion (HI) has described Gaza as a “horrific, unmapped minefield”. Nick Orr, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist with the group, starkly outlined the challenge.

“If you're looking at a full clearance, it's never happening, it's subterranean. We will find it for generations to come,” Orr stated, drawing comparisons with cities after World War Two. “Surface clearance... is attainable within a generation, I think 20 to 30 years. It's going to be a very small chipping away at a very big problem” .

The scale of contamination is unprecedented. HI estimates that approximately 70,000 tonnes of explosives have been dropped on Gaza since the war began, with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) calculating that 5 to 10 percent of munitions failed to detonate . This has left the territory riddled with everything from large bombs and shells to grenades and small arms ammunition .

The human cost of this contamination is already being counted, though official figures are believed to be a significant undercount .

A UN-led database has recorded more than 53 deaths and hundreds of injuries from explosions of leftover war remnants . Aid groups report that the danger is particularly acute for children, who are often maimed or killed when drawn to the metal casings of unexploded ordnance .

“The risks are enormous,” said Anne-Claire Yaeesh, HI’s Director for the Palestinian Territories, characterizing the landscape as a “minefield buried under rubble” made worse by narrow streets and damaged infrastructure.

Orr’s team is scheduled to begin identifying war remnants in essential infrastructure like hospitals and bakeries next week . He has voiced support for a temporary international security force, as foreseen in the ceasefire plan, to enable humanitarians to work safely.

The presence of these hidden killers poses a monumental obstacle to Gaza's recovery, making the safe return of displaced families and the reconstruction of vital infrastructure impossibly dangerous. For the people of Gaza, the end of active fighting has revealed a new, silent war that will last for decades. (ILKHA)