Ibrahim Naji al-Dabba, a 49-year-old beekeeper and father of seven, continues his profession from the roof of a damaged residential tower in Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood. Before the war, al-Dabba owned more than 400 beehives across eastern Gaza, along with equipment and storage facilities, supporting his family for decades.
He estimates his financial losses from the war at over $350,000 (£263,000), having lost his home, apiaries, and most of his equipment. After being displaced multiple times and finding no other work, al-Dabba returned to beekeeping, investing over $3,000 in three new beehives.
Working with his sons, he has expanded these initial three colonies to 35 beehives. Al-Dabba, who also serves as president of the Gaza Beekeepers’ cooperative society, highlights the ongoing challenges, including the scarcity and high cost of essential supplies like medicines, wax foundation, and supplemental feed.
Despite these obstacles, al-Dabba maintains that beekeeping is crucial for honey production and for sustaining agriculture, stating, "There is no sustainable agriculture without bees."