Massive Scale of Destruction
With a fragile ceasefire in place, experts say rebuilding the Gaza Strip could take decades and cost an estimated $70 billion.
“I don’t think there’s any modern comparison to what’s going to need to happen in the Gaza Strip right now,” said Hady Amr of the Brookings Institute.
According to the United Nations Satellite Center, 83% of Gaza City’s buildings were damaged by September, with 40% completely destroyed. Key infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and utilities were heavily impacted during Israel’s two-year military campaign.
Clearing Rubble and Restoring Services
The United Nations has already cleared more than 81,000 tons of rubble, but removing unexploded ordnance and bodies trapped beneath debris will take years, experts said. “There’s going to need to be a massive scale up of life-saving assistance just to ensure people are getting food, medical help, and shelter,” said Mona Yacoubian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Humanitarian aid is expected to increase under the ceasefire, but additional border crossings have yet to open, slowing relief efforts.
Political and Security Hurdles
Amr warned that reconstruction cannot begin until basic security and freedom of movement are guaranteed. “The central challenges today are ending the war, ending the military occupation, and allowing goods and people to move freely,” he said.
Funding the Recovery
A joint assessment by the UN, EU, and World Bank projects a $70 billion rebuilding cost. European nations, Canada, and oil-rich Gulf states have expressed interest in contributing, though some countries want clear progress toward Palestinian statehood before committing funds. “Gulf countries have signaled they will not fund reconstruction in the absence of a longer-term solution,” Yacoubian said.
The road to Gaza’s recovery, experts agree, will be long, complex, and dependent on both international aid and political will.
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