Rebuilding Gaza: An Uphill Battle After Catastrophic Destruction

Thu Oct 16 2025 19:13:40 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In the aftermath of extensive devastation in Gaza, the monumental task of rebuilding begins, but daunting challenges and financial pressures loom large.

As Gazans return to their homes amid the ruins, the UN estimates a staggering $70 billion is needed for reconstruction. With nearly 84% of infrastructure damaged, efforts will focus initially on debris removal, restoring essential services, and addressing the humanitarian crisis, including access to clean water and electricity. Experts warn that without significant international support and efficient planning, recovery may take decades.

As thousands of Gazans made the journey back to their neighbourhoods following the ceasefire, many of them already knew their homes were in ruins.

The prospect of rebuilding homes, businesses, and all the institutions and services needed for a return to normal life in Gaza is daunting by any measure: the UN estimates that the damage amounts to $70bn.

As Prof Andreas Krieg, a Middle East security expert from King's College London, says: It's worse than starting from scratch - here you aren't starting in the sand, you are starting with rubble.

The level of destruction on the strip is now in the region of 84%. In certain parts of Gaza, like in Gaza City, it's even up to 92%, says Jaco Cilliers, UN Development Programme special representative for the Palestinians.

This damage has created colossal amounts of rubble. Assessments suggest there could be over 60 million tonnes of debris waiting to be cleared in Gaza.

Any process of post-conflict reconstruction must begin by clearing the remnants of war.

Clearing the rubble

The many millions of tonnes of rubble now littering the Gaza Strip are not just piles of concrete and twisted metal. They also contain human remains and unexploded bombs.

From a safety and humane perspective, the first thing you have to do is make the sites that have been bombed-out safe, says former JCB executive Philip Bouverat.

This will lay the foundations of construction, but building efforts will require the mass import of materials.

When the sites are cleared, essential services such as water, sewerage, and electricity can be restored.

Water and sewerage

Clean water is a major immediate need for Gazans. According to estimates from Unicef, more than 70% of the territory's 600 water and sanitation facilities have been damaged or destroyed since 7 October 2023.

There are six wastewater treatment plants in Gaza. All of them are damaged, said Maher Najjar, deputy director at Coastal Municipalities Water Utility.

In recent satellite imagery, significant damage to vital facilities is evident.

Housing

Satellite images show the devastation in an area of Sheikh Radwan, with over 282,904 houses and apartments damaged or destroyed during the conflict.

According to RAND Corporation's Shelly Culbertson, rebuilding housing could take decades unless planning considers efficient pathways to reconstruction.

Power

Gaza's power infrastructure was severely compromised before the war and remains critical now, with 80% of assets destroyed since the beginning of hostilities.

Agriculture

Aerial assessments indicate substantial agricultural losses, severely impacting food security and leading to rising famine risks in Gaza.

Education

Half of Gaza's population was under 18 before the war, and the educational infrastructure has been heavily targeted, leading to closing of schools and widespread destruction of higher education institutions.

As recovery efforts commence, experts highlight that without strategic support and international assistance, the road to recovery for Gaza could be painfully slow and fraught with challenges.