Ibrahim Naji al-Dabba, a 49-year-old father of seven and president of the Gaza Beekeepers’ cooperative society, tends 35 surviving beehives from the roof of a heavily damaged residential tower in Tel al-Hawa after the war destroyed his home, most of his equipment and more than 400 hives. Before the war al-Dabba ran a thriving operation across eastern Gaza, producing honey, breeding queen bees and developing strains adapted to Gaza’s climate. He estimates his financial losses at more than $350,000 (£263,000). Unable to access his apiaries during bombardment and displacement, he used savings to buy three hives for over $3,000, then with his sons rebuilt those colonies into 35 hives. Honey production is limited and essential supplies such as medicines, wax foundation, supplemental feed and equipment are scarce or prohibitively expensive. Al-Dabba says each successful harvest preserves part of the life he lost and helps maintain locally adapted bee strains and pollination capacity that supported Gaza agriculture. His effort keeps a source of income and expertise alive for the beekeeping sector even as rebuilding faces large material and security obstacles.
Nicola Miller6
Meg Howarth2
