Gaza Rubble Transformed into Electricity by Homemade Wind Turbines
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Kamal Al-Dabbari is building wind turbines from Gaza's rubble to generate electricity for displaced families, as solar panels have become unaffordable. The ongoing conflict has destroyed Gaza's power grid, with over 90% of its capacity reportedly ruined by April 2026. Al-Dabbari uses salvaged parts to create turbines that power essential devices like lights and phone chargers. Residents say the system has "changed everything" and provides crucial power for daily life and medical needs.
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- Kamal Al-Dabbari is creating wind turbines from Gaza's rubble to generate electricity for displaced families.
- Solar panels have become unaffordable in Gaza, costing at least 15,000 shekels each.
- Over 90% of Gaza's electricity generation and distribution capacity was destroyed by April 2026.
- Al-Dabbari uses salvaged parts from vehicles and bicycles to construct the turbines.
- The turbines provide power for charging phones, lights, fans, and essential medical devices.
- Residents describe the system as life-changing and crucial for their survival.
Kamal Al-Dabbari, a former engineering student, has repurposed scrap materials from Gaza's rubble to construct homemade wind turbines, providing electricity to displaced families in the southern Gaza Strip. Facing exorbitant prices for solar panels, which now cost at least 15,000 shekels each, Al-Dabbari turned to wind power as a more accessible alternative for residents of the devastated Gaza Strip. The destruction of the electricity grid during the ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, has left many without power. Commercial aid and supplies enter Gaza slowly through Israeli-controlled crossings. According to the World Bank, over 90% of Gaza's electricity generation and distribution capacity was destroyed by April 2026, largely due to Israeli attacks on homes and infrastructure.
Al-Dabbari, who is displaced from Rafah and living in the crowded Mawasi Khan Younis camp, collects parts from bicycles, vehicles, water tanks, and old electric scooter motors from the rubble. These components are used to build the wind turbines. When the turbines spin, they power a motor that generates electricity. This power is then channeled through circuits made from salvaged parts and stored in batteries. The system provides enough electricity to charge mobile phones, power lights and fans, and even run electric shavers, essential items that have become luxuries for families living in tents and shelters.
"This system changed everything," said 50-year-old resident Saleh bin Hassan, highlighting the critical importance of even small amounts of electricity for displaced families. He added that the power is vital for medical devices, such as nebulizers for children at night, and that they rely on Al-Dabbari, known as "Abu Ayman," for this essential service. Al-Dabbari expressed hope that the turbines help them endure until they can return to their homes, stating, "They help us to endure... until God lifts this cloud from us."