A Palestinian boy sells used clothes outside a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, on October 28, 2024. — Reuters

Moein Abu Odeh climbed a heap of debris in southern Gaza, looking for clothes, shoes, anything he could sell to raise money more than a year after Israel began its relentless bombings. The father of four dug under blocks and brushed away layers of concrete dust at the site of an airstrike in the devastated city of Khan Younis. His goal was to sell what he found to buy flour.

"If food and drink were available, believe me, I would donate these clothes," he said. "But the hardships we are facing mean we have to sell our clothes to survive." Widespread shortages and prolonged war have spurred a trade in old clothing, much of it recovered from the homes of those who died in the conflict.

At a makeshift market, shoes, shirts, sweaters, and sneakers were spread out on dusty blankets. A girl tried on a single worn-out boot, which might be useful this winter if she can afford it in Gaza's shattered economy. A trader gained an advantage over his competitors by claiming his goods were European. One man laughed as he had a young boy try on a green jacket.

"We get clothing from a man whose house was destroyed. He was digging through the concrete to find some clothes, and we buy them like this and sell them at a good price," said displaced Palestinian Louay Abdel-Rahman. He and his family arrived in the city from another part of Gaza with only the clothes they were wearing. So he also keeps some back for them. "The seasons have changed from summer to winter, and we need clothing," he said.

Israel’s military campaign since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack has ravaged the enclave, leaving an estimated 42 million tonnes of debris where houses, mosques, schools, and shops once stood. In April, the UN estimated it would take 14 years to clear the wreckage. The UN official overseeing the problem said the cleanup would cost at least $1.2 billion.

More than 128,000 buildings have been destroyed or severely or moderately damaged in Gaza as a result of the conflict, according to the UN. Beneath all of that are layers of mangled clothes.

"All our children only have short-sleeve clothing, and nobody is helping them," said Saeed Doula, a father of seven. "The war affects everything."

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