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Rescue teams have so far had to rely on rudimentary tools – shovels, pickaxes, wheelbarrows, rakes, hoes – and their bare hands. Requests to Israel to allow the entry of excavators and heavy machinery so they can work more effectively have received no response.

"The whole world has seen the equipment that was brought in to retrieve the bodies of Israeli hostages [including bulldozers and excavators],” said Dr Mohammed al-Mughir, the director of humanitarian support and international cooperation at the civil defence. “We also need the same equipment to retrieve our bodies.”