Two years into the devastating conflict in the Gaza Strip, the region lies in ruins—physically demolished, socially fragmented, and economically crippled. The scale of destruction is staggering, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, critical infrastructure obliterated, and the livelihoods of millions shattered. The path to recovery is fraught with immense challenges, from unexploded ordnance to restricted access to construction materials, and experts warn that rebuilding could take decades and cost tens of billions of dollars. This report delves into the multifaceted challenges of reconstructing Gaza, the urgent humanitarian needs of its people, and the systemic obstacles that must be overcome to restore the enclave to a semblance of normalcy.
The Scale of Destruction
The Gaza Strip, a densely populated enclave of approximately 2.3 million people, has been subjected to relentless military operations since October 2023, resulting in unprecedented levels of destruction. According to the Gaza Media Office, initial losses across vital sectors exceed $70 billion, a figure that underscores the catastrophic impact of the conflict. A comprehensive Interim Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (IRDNA), conducted by the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Nations, provides a detailed breakdown of the damages and recovery costs as of February 2025. The report estimates total damages at $29.9 billion, with economic and social losses amounting to $19.1 billion, bringing the overall cost of recovery to approximately $53 billion. Short-term needs for the first three years are projected at $20 billion, with long-term reconstruction requiring sustained international commitment.
The destruction spans every sector of Gaza’s society, from housing and health to education, energy, water, sanitation, and cultural heritage. The scale of the crisis demands a global response, with experts emphasizing that the challenges are not only logistical but also political, requiring unprecedented coordination and cooperation.
Urgent Humanitarian Needs
The immediate needs of Gaza’s population are dire. Over half of the enclave’s residents—approximately 1.2 million people—have been displaced, many living in makeshift shelters or exposed to the elements. The Norwegian Refugee Council’s media and communications adviser, Ahmed Bayram, emphasizes the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis: “For now, the focus must be on reversing the deadly famine and providing temporary shelter for people to stay in ahead of winter. Today, the focus must be on preserving human life in Gaza.”
Mamoun Besaiso, an adviser to the UN on Gaza’s reconstruction, outlines the critical priorities: “The main immediate things to provide to people are shelter, potable water, food, medical services, and back-to-school education.” These basic necessities are essential to stabilizing the population and preventing further loss of life. The approaching winter exacerbates the urgency, as many displaced families lack adequate protection from the cold.
Shelter: A Pressing Priority
The housing sector has borne the brunt of the destruction, with 81,000 housing units damaged since October 2023, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reports that 92% of Palestinian homes in Gaza have been destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands without shelter. The IRDNA estimates that rebuilding the housing sector will cost $15.2 billion, accounting for 30% of the total recovery needs. In the short term, $3.7 billion is required to provide temporary shelter and housing options, while long-term reconstruction of destroyed homes is projected at $11.4 billion.
The destruction of housing has profound social and psychological impacts. Families are forced to live in overcrowded conditions, makeshift tents, or damaged structures, exacerbating trauma and insecurity. The lack of shelter also complicates efforts to provide other essential services, as displaced populations are scattered across the enclave, often in areas with limited access to infrastructure.
Food Security and Famine
The conflict has triggered a severe food crisis, with widespread reports of famine-like conditions in parts of Gaza. The destruction of agricultural infrastructure, combined with restricted access to food supplies, has left millions food insecure. Bayram stresses the need for immediate action to reverse the famine, including the distribution of food aid and the restoration of local food production capacity. The IRDNA highlights the importance of ensuring access to food as a cornerstone of short-term humanitarian efforts.
Water and Sanitation
Access to clean water and sanitation is another critical need. The IRDNA estimates that restoring Gaza’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector will cost $2.7 billion. Since October 2023, Israel’s military operations have destroyed water facilities, desalination units, and sewage systems, leaving 90% of households water insecure. Immediate needs, estimated at $664 million, include emergency repairs, water trucking, bottled water supplies, and access to hygiene products. Long-term strategies, requiring $2 billion, focus on rebuilding resilient water and sewage networks and expanding desalination systems.
A July 2025 report by UN experts found that 89% of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, creating a public health crisis. Contaminated water sources and inadequate sanitation have led to outbreaks of waterborne diseases, further straining the already collapsed health system.
Health Care: A System on the Brink
The health sector in Gaza is in near-total collapse. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that rebuilding the health system will cost over $7 billion, covering humanitarian response, early recovery, and long-term reconstruction. Since October 2023, the Israeli military has carried out 778 attacks on health facilities, damaging 34 hospitals, 91 medical centers, and 210 ambulances. More than half of Gaza’s 228 hospitals and primary health care centers are out of service, and 1,700 health workers have been killed.
The loss of medical infrastructure has left Gaza’s population vulnerable to untreated injuries, chronic illnesses, and infectious diseases. Only one-third of the enclave’s 176 primary health care centers remain partially functional, severely limiting access to care. The WHO emphasizes the need for immediate humanitarian aid to restore basic medical services, followed by long-term investments to rebuild hospitals and clinics.
Education: A Lost Generation
The education sector has been decimated, with profound consequences for Gaza’s youth. The IRDNA estimates that recovery needs for education will total $3.8 billion over five years. Short-term needs, amounting to $2.6 billion, include setting up temporary learning facilities such as tents and prefabricated buildings, reclaiming schools used as shelters for displaced persons, providing psychosocial support, and addressing severe learning losses. Long-term strategies, costing $1.2 billion, focus on rebuilding destroyed schools, enhancing digital infrastructure, and strengthening the sector’s resilience.
According to UNESCO, 97% of schools in Gaza have sustained damage, with 518 out of 564 requiring full reconstruction or major rehabilitation. The conflict has claimed the lives of 17,237 students, 1,271 university students, and 967 educational staff, while nearly 660,000 children remain out of school. The disruption of education threatens to create a “lost generation,” with long-term implications for Gaza’s social and economic recovery.
Energy: A Region in Darkness
Gaza’s energy sector, already strained before the conflict, has been pushed to the brink. The IRDNA estimates short-term needs at $365 million, primarily to secure 322,000 liters of fuel daily for diesel generators to meet urgent humanitarian needs in health care, water, and food production. Medium- to long-term needs, totaling $1.1 billion, include resuming electricity imports, enabling the Gaza Power Plant (GPP) with 400,000 liters of fuel daily to produce 70 MW, installing solar photovoltaic systems with battery storage, and exploring energy imports from Egypt.
Prior to the conflict, Gaza’s energy sector met less than 35% of demand, resulting in frequent blackouts. The destruction of energy infrastructure has left much of the enclave in darkness, hampering humanitarian efforts and exacerbating living conditions.
Cultural Heritage: A Silent Casualty
The conflict has also taken a toll on Gaza’s cultural heritage, with 53% of heritage sites damaged or destroyed. The IRDNA estimates damages at $120 million, with 27% of cultural assets, including archaeological sites and historic buildings, severely impacted. Immediate needs, totaling $48 million, focus on protecting damaged sites, while long-term efforts, costing $144 million, involve conservation, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
The loss of cultural heritage is not only a material tragedy but also a blow to Gaza’s identity and collective memory. Rebuilding these sites will be essential to preserving the enclave’s cultural fabric.
Challenges to Reconstruction
The path to rebuilding Gaza is fraught with obstacles, ranging from logistical and technical challenges to political and systemic barriers. Mamoun Besaiso, the UN adviser, highlights several critical issues that must be addressed to enable recovery.
Unexploded Ordnance
One of the most immediate dangers is the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Besaiso estimates that 30% of bombs dropped in Gaza remain unexploded, posing a significant risk to civilians and reconstruction efforts. Clearing UXO is a complex and time-consuming process, requiring specialized expertise and equipment. The presence of UXO also complicates efforts to remove rubble and recover bodies, further delaying reconstruction.
Rubble and Debris
The sheer volume of rubble—estimated at millions of tons—presents a monumental challenge. Besaiso cites a UN report from 2024, which projects that removing the rubble could take 14 years under current conditions, with housing reconstruction potentially taking 80 years if Israel continues to control the entry of materials and equipment. The presence of human remains under the rubble adds a layer of urgency and complexity, as families seek closure and health risks from decomposition grow.
Restrictions on Construction Materials
Israel’s control over the entry of construction materials and heavy equipment is a major bottleneck. Besaiso notes that “we are not allowed to bring one bag of cement inside Gaza unless Israel approves.” This restriction severely hampers reconstruction efforts, as materials such as cement, steel, and gravel are essential for rebuilding homes, schools, and infrastructure. The prohibition on heavy equipment, such as cranes and bulldozers, further slows progress, as manual labor cannot adequately address the scale of the task.
Political and Funding Challenges
The reconstruction of Gaza requires not only resources but also a sustainable political solution. Besaiso warns that international donors are hesitant to invest in Gaza due to the risk of repeated destruction. During the 2008-2009 conflict, the EU provided funds for reconstruction, only for Israel to destroy many of the rebuilt structures two years later, leading to donor fatigue. Besaiso notes that some donors have expressed reluctance to invest without assurances of a lasting political resolution.
The management of reconstruction funds is another contentious issue. Last year, discussions among donors centered on channeling funds through a World Bank trust fund, but the EU opted to manage its own funds independently. Egypt has proposed a Community Coordination Committee, composed of experts and technocrats, to oversee reconstruction efforts. However, the lack of consensus on fund management risks delaying the allocation of resources.
Israeli Occupation and Control
Perhaps the most significant obstacle is Israel’s continued control over 53% of the Gaza Strip. Besaiso argues that full-scale reconstruction is impossible without a complete Israeli withdrawal. Critical infrastructure projects, such as water and sewage networks, cannot proceed while Israel controls key areas of land. The occupation also restricts the movement of people and goods, further complicating recovery efforts.
The Cost of Reconstruction
The financial burden of rebuilding Gaza is immense. The IRDNA’s $53 billion estimate is conservative compared to the Gaza Media Office’s $70 billion figure, reflecting the complexity of assessing damages in an ongoing conflict. The breakdown of costs includes:
Housing: $15.2 billion, with $3.7 billion for short-term shelter and $11.4 billion for long-term reconstruction.
Health: Over $7 billion for humanitarian response, early recovery, and rebuilding hospitals and clinics.
Education: $3.8 billion over five years, with $2.6 billion for temporary facilities and $1.2 billion for long-term reconstruction.
Energy: $1.465 billion, including $365 million for immediate fuel needs and $1.1 billion for long-term energy solutions.
Water and Sanitation: $2.7 billion, with $664 million for emergency repairs and $2 billion for resilient infrastructure.
Cultural Heritage: $192 million, with $48 million for immediate protection and $144 million for long-term restoration.
These figures represent only the direct costs of physical reconstruction. The social and economic costs—lost livelihoods, trauma, and disrupted education—add billions more to the overall recovery effort.
Who Will Rebuild Gaza?
The question of who will fund and oversee Gaza’s reconstruction remains unresolved. International donors, including the EU, World Bank, and UN agencies, have expressed willingness to contribute but are wary of investing without guarantees of stability. Besaiso emphasizes that a sustainable political solution is a prerequisite for large-scale donor commitment. Without such a solution, the risk of repeated destruction looms large, deterring investment.
Egypt’s proposal for a Community Coordination Committee offers a potential framework for managing reconstruction, but it requires international buy-in and cooperation. The committee would need to navigate complex political dynamics, including Israel’s role in controlling access to Gaza and the allocation of funds.
A Global Call to Action
Rebuilding Gaza will require a global effort on a scale not seen in decades. Ahmed Bayram of the Norwegian Refugee Council underscores the need for Israel to commit to allowing the rapid repair of infrastructure and the entry of construction materials and equipment. Without this commitment, even the most ambitious reconstruction plans will falter.
The international community must also address the humanitarian crisis as a priority. Providing shelter, food, water, medical care, and education to Gaza’s population is essential to stabilizing the region and laying the groundwork for long-term recovery. The approaching winter adds urgency to these efforts, as displaced families face the risk of exposure and disease.
Conclusion
The reconstruction of Gaza is a monumental task that demands unprecedented coordination, resources, and political will. The enclave’s physical, social, and economic devastation requires a multifaceted response, addressing immediate humanitarian needs while laying the foundation for sustainable recovery. However, systemic challenges—unexploded ordnance, restricted access to materials, and Israel’s control over the region—threaten to prolong the crisis. A global call to action, backed by a sustainable political solution, is essential to restoring Gaza and ensuring a future for its people. The road to recovery is long and fraught with obstacles, but with international commitment and cooperation, there is hope for a rebuilt Gaza that can rise from the ashes of destruction.
