Palestinian blacksmith creates furniture and miniature models from scrap metal

Fakher Hamad uses discarded metal to make household items

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  A Palestinian blacksmith Fakher Hamad shows a recycled miniature model of a motorcycle at his scrap metal workshop, in Gaza City July 4, 2022. REUTERS / Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

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  Hamad has been a blacksmith since he was 13 years old.

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  He is among the very few blacksmiths to use scrap metal to make usable items for the house.

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  He makes miniatures of scorpions, motorcycles, trees, animals or house decorations from scrap metals he collects himself or buys from people.

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  Hamad refuses to sell first copies of his artwork, but is willing to make customers similar ones.

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  Hamad's old workshop had been destroyed when an Israeli plane bombed a nearby security post but he used the little aid he received to open another one.

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  Having lost his hearing in an accident when he was a child, Hamad had difficulty speaking and some of his associates had to sometimes explain his words to customers, but it does not impact his work.

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