The Battle of Reconstruction After Destruction: Realities and Challenges of Rebuilding Gaza

The process of rebuilding the Gaza Strip faces an unprecedented humanitarian and economic challenge in modern history. After successive rounds of destruction, specifically the devastating war that began in October 2023, the Strip has been reduced to rubble, necessitating exceptional international plans to make it a habitable place again. The battle of reconstruction in Gaza is not merely about paving roads or constructing buildings; it is a complex process where politics intertwine with funding and spatial planning.Statistics and reports issued by the United Nations and the Government Media Office in Gaza indicate the scale of a disaster that has affected all aspects of life:Residential Sector: Approximately 70% of homes in the Strip have been damaged, with hundreds of thousands of housing units completely or partially destroyed.Infrastructure and Facilities: Around 85% to 90% of water and sanitation facilities are out of service, in addition to the destruction of 65% of road networks.Health and Education Systems: 95% of schools in the Strip have been damaged, and most hospitals and health centers are out of service. Destruction also affected 99% of universities.Economic and Financial Sector: More than 90% of economic establishments and about 93% of bank branches have been destroyed, plummeting Gaza's contribution to the Palestinian GDP to its lowest levels.Joint assessments issued by the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank agree that the total cost of reconstruction ranges from 70 to 80 billion US dollars.The urgent and immediate phase alone (during the first three years) requires approximately 20 billion dollars to revive the sector and provide basic services.The first and most complex step begins with confronting the "mountains of rubble," as lifting and removing millions of tons of debris and rubble requires extensive timelines and massive equipment in preparation for any new construction.Despite proposals and plans for the "day after" the war, their implementation on the ground faces a wall of obstacles.Political Conditions and Funding: Many international and regional donors condition the flow of reconstruction funds on a comprehensive political settlement and changes in governance structures to manage the Strip.Restrictions and Siege: The continued Israeli control over crossings and the mechanism for entering essential materials (such as cement and iron) under the pretext of "dual-use" hinders the pace of any sustainable construction.Internal Governance Crisis: Experts believe that the absence of a unified Palestinian entity, internationally and locally acceptable, undermines effective coordination for managing the largest reconstruction operation in the region.To ensure that previous stalled reconstruction experiences are not repeated, experts recommend adopting a new approach based on:Establishing an Independent National Authority: The creation of a professional, non-political institution to manage funding and oversee urban planning in cooperation with civil society.Priority for Local Forces: Giving priority to local Palestinian companies and labor to stimulate Gaza's economic wheel and recycle funds internally.Lifting the Comprehensive Siege: No construction process can succeed and stabilize without fully opening the crossings and ensuring the free movement of individuals and goods.Conclusion:Rebuilding Gaza is not just an engineering project; it is a humanitarian and political lever to restore hope for over two million Palestinians who have suffered years of wars and siege.The success of this process primarily depends on the availability of international will to lift restrictions and provide generous and unconditional funding, transcending narrow interests to place the Palestinian people and their basic needs at the forefront of priorities.