Gaza turns its rubble into power with homemade wind turbines

In a Gaza displacement camp, a former engineering student builds homemade wind turbines from scrap metal and debris, providing electricity to families without access to the territory's shattered power grid. The World Bank reports over 90% of Gaza's power capacity was destroyed in April 2026. A single solar panel now costs 15,000 shekels ($5,000).

In a displacement camp in Khan Younis, Gaza, homemade wind turbines built from scrap metal and salvaged debris are providing electricity to families living without access to the territory's shattered power grid. Kamal Al-Dabary, a 60-year-old former engineering student, constructs the turbines using scooter motors and old water tanks cut into blades. The World Bank reports that more than 90 percent of Gaza's power generation and distribution capacity was destroyed in April 2026, much of it in IDF strikes during the war sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack. A single solar panel now costs at least 15,000 shekels (nearly $5,000), putting it out of reach for most Gazans. The turbines generate enough electricity to charge phones, run lights, fans, and even electric razors, and can power medical equipment like nebulizers. Residents describe the system as transformative, with one saying, 'It has changed everything.' The article also includes a promotional appeal for Times of Israel Community membership.