Gaza Carpenter Crafts Wooden Sandals for Daughters Amid Ongoing War

By Mohammed Salem

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza – In the midst of chaos caused by Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, twelve-year-old Heba Dawas lost her sandals while fleeing. To help her navigate through the debris, hot sand, and twisted metal of the besieged region, her father, a carpenter, crafted wooden-soled sandals for her.

“When we were displaced, we started running and my sandals broke,” Heba explained while living in a tent camp with her family in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. “I threw them off and kept running. Our feet became very hot, so we needed to make sandals from wood,” she recounted as she walked on the scorching sand in her new footwear.

Saber Dawas, 39, created the wooden sandals after realizing that the cost of commercially available sandals was too high for his family. As a result, he ensured his daughter wouldn’t have to walk barefoot amidst the ruins of Gaza. “I had to make a custom size for each daughter,” he noted.

Soon, neighbors began to take notice of his handiwork and requested sandals for their own children. Using basic carpentry tools, Saber began producing them for a symbolic price. The sandals feature wooden soles and straps made from rubber strips or fabric. A challenge he faced was sourcing enough wood, as many residents needed it for cooking and fuel.

“Everything here in Gaza is difficult to find,” said Dawas, as he rubbed the base of one of the sandals while his young daughter looked on.

While creating wooden sandals may alleviate some issues caused by the ongoing conflict, life remains incredibly challenging in Gaza. Reports indicate that the Israeli offensive against Hamas has resulted in the deaths of more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Nearly 2 million individuals have been displaced, often multiple times.

The conflict escalated on October 7, when Hamas initiated hostilities against Israel, leading to substantial casualties on both sides, including the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the taking of over 250 hostages.

A dire humanitarian crisis has emerged, with many Palestinians struggling to access food, water, and fuel while seeking safe shelter throughout the territory. Efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to mediate a ceasefire have not yet succeeded.

The closure of the border crossing with Egypt has halted the flow of aid and essential supplies, including footwear.

“People now are walking around with mismatched shoes,” commented Momen al-Qarra, a local cobbler repairing old shoes in a small market in Khan Younis. “If this situation continues for two weeks or a month without the border opening, people will be barefoot.”