As discussions over a potential ceasefire continue, residents of the Gaza Strip are turning their attention to rebuilding their devastated communities. Heavy machinery is clearing roads and removing debris in once-bustling neighborhoods now reduced to rubble.
According to the United Nations, the destruction amounts to about £53 billion ($70 billion) in damages, with nearly 300,000 homes destroyed. An estimated 60 million tons of debris now cover Gaza, mixed with unexploded bombs and bodies. The Hamas-run health ministry says at least 68,000 people have been killed in the past two years—figures the UN is currently reviewing.
The key question now is: who will lead Gaza’s reconstruction?
Among several proposals is the “Phoenix of Gaza” plan, drawn up by around 700 Palestinian experts, aiming to rebuild with local leadership and vision. It contrasts sharply with the “Gaza Riviera” plan mentioned by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which envisions new urban centers and even financial incentives—£5,000 ($3,780)—for Gazans willing to relocate abroad.
Other plans, including one supported by Egypt and the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas, emphasize involving Gazans in every stage of reconstruction.
Analysts warn that rebuilding could take decades, not years, especially given the scale of destruction. Progress depends on security guarantees, open borders for construction materials, and assurances that donor funds will not be lost to renewed conflict.