Reconstruction efforts in Gaza will require more than $50 billion after 15 months of Israel’s catastrophic war, according to new assessments by the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank.
The figure comes as Arab countries continue their scramble to find a viable recovery plan, replacing the massive displacement of the 2 million residents of the Palestinian enclave proposed by President Donald Trump.
The Gaza & West Bank Provisional Fast Damage and Needs Assessment (IRDNA) released on Tuesday revealed that between October 8, 2023 and October 8, 2024, Israeli war with Gaza was destroyed 490. It calculated it caused billions of dollars.
Researchers concluded that $53.2 billion will be needed to restore and rebuild Palestinian territory over the next decade, and that the full amount of about $2 billion will be required in the first three years alone.
“Funding requires a significant improvement in the provision of reconstruction materials to Gaza in the post-conflict period, broad coalition of donors, diverse funding instruments, private sector resources, and reconstruction materials to Gaza during the post-conflict period,” the joint report states. .
Damaged buildings and other major infrastructure require more than half of the estimated cost of reconstruction ($29.9 billion). Meanwhile, funds to replenish Gaza’s destroyed residential housing stock form a large portion of that figure.
Housing suffered the most during the 15-month attack on Israeli territory, with the report accounting for 53% of the total destruction created by Israeli forces in Gaza, claiming that more than 292,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged. I’m estimating it.
An additional $19.1 billion will be needed to compensate for the social and economic losses caused by serious damage to the health, education, commercial and industrial sectors of Gaza, the report estimates.
Researchers also say that while 95% of Gaza hospitals are currently not functioning, the local economy is contracted 83%.
Ildna was a follow-up to an interim damage assessment (IDA) issued by the UN, the EU and the World Bank in April 2024, estimated approximately $18.5 billion in damages after just four months of Israeli war. .
Removing untreated weapons and removing millions of tons of tiled rubber is the first part of a reconstruction effort.
An uncertain future
The findings of the report came amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and were accused of repeatedly violating ceasefires since it came into effect on January 19.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could not rule out a return to war on the coastal enclaves if Hamas did not continue to return all the prisoners that it holds there.
Therefore, the authors of the report have still the conditions for large-scale recovery and reconstruction work, given the lack of clarity for Gaza’s future, particularly considering how it will be governed. I warned that it was not.
“The speed, scale and range of recovery are shaped by these conditions,” the report states.
Since returning to the White House in late January, Trump has said he will become “take over” and “his” Gaza. .
As part of the plan, Trump said he would forever drive away 2 million Palestinians. He pressured both Jordan and Egypt to take those who had been kicked out of Gaza.
Netanyahu expressed strong support for Trump’s proposal, and his government announced Monday that it had formed a special branch from the coastal enclave for “voluntary departures” for Palestinians.
Egypt is spearheading an alternative Arab-led reconstruction plan to keep Gaza’s population home.
On Monday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatti said Cairo is “actively developing a comprehensive multiphase program for the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.”
Importantly, Cairo says the plan does not require Gaza’s population to be evacuated. Instead, “safe areas” are established where Palestinians can live will be established, with dozens of Egyptian and international construction companies removing and rehabilitating war-torn infrastructure in the strip.
The plan could see up to $200 billion that Arab and Gulf countries will provide for reconstruction efforts, Reuters reported Tuesday, with two anonymous Egyptian security sources with knowledge of the issue was quoted.
Egyptian President Abdel Fatta El-Sisi traveled to Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh on Thursday to discuss plans before the Arab summit takes place in Cairo on March 4th, and could finalize the proposal. There is, Reuters said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saa said he is waiting for Israel to evaluate Egypt’s plans.
However, he reiterated Israel’s long-standing stance that Hamas’ plans to continue to be political or military presence in Gaza are unacceptable.