What will reconstructing besieged Gaza entail?

It may be stating the obvious but rebuilding war-torn Gaza, after 15 months of relentless bombardment by Israeli forces, will be a massive and complex undertaking, which will entail conflating several elements such as financial aid, diplomatic engagement, humanitarian relief, and long-term political efforts.

The true ask: How can Muslim-majority countries play a critical part in this intense and long-term endeavour?

Scale of destruction

The Israel-Hamas conflict has caused nearly 50,000 deaths, displaced nearly a million people, and destroyed more than 60% of Gaza's housing stock along with much of its critical infrastructure, according to a report by the RAND Corporation.

The American research institute, which advises governments and international bodies on public policy, estimates that rebuilding housing and infrastructure could take over a decade, with costs exceeding $50 billion.

Similarly, a joint report by the World Bank, the United Nations, and the European Union found that reconstructing Gaza will require around $53 billion, with the largest portion allocated to rebuilding homes. 

Short-term recovery will need approximately $20 billion over the next three years, while long-term housing reconstruction will require an estimated $15.2 billion over the next five to eight years. Immediate recovery efforts include restoring essential social services such as healthcare and education, resuming basic utilities in the energy, water, and telecom sectors, ensuring food security, and repairing partially damaged homes. 

Additionally, a massive effort will be needed to clear over 50 million tons of rubble and debris caused by 15 months of relentless Israeli bombardment.

“The devastation by Israel in Gaza demands a response that matches the scale of reconstruction efforts seen in the aftermath of World War II, when cities like Berlin and Tokyo were rebuilt whilst preserving their communities and cultural heritage,” the Muslim Council of Britain stated in February. 

Innovative reconstruction strategies

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Gaza-born political analyst and resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, has proposed innovative solutions to Gaza’s immediate reconstruction challenges, including recycling its rubble to create an artificial peninsula off its central coast, which could host an airfield and a seaport. This could accord a vital, independent lifeline for the Strip’s recovery.

Additionally, Alkhatib proposes docking a floating power station offshore to supply electricity and deploying concrete breakers to process large debris. This would help clear space for temporary mobile homes, offering shelter for displaced residents as reconstruction progresses.

When it comes to providing shelter for Gaza’s displaced residents, the RAND report suggests that horizontal expansion alone cannot achieve the necessary population densities for returning communities.

Instead, the authors advocate for vertical expansion - adding floors to mid-rise buildings - as a practical solution for maximizing space in land-constrained urban areas. Additionally, vertical expansion aligns with the traditional Palestinian family structure, where generations often live in the same building, expanding upward as families grow through births and marriage, the report notes.

Muslim-countries helping rebuild Gaza

Muslim-majority countries, including Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, have previously provided billions in aid and may play a major role in funding Gaza’s infrastructure projects.

Qatar’s Gaza Reconstruction Committee has overseen hundreds of humanitarian projects since 2012. In 2024 alone, Qatar contributed over $49 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to aid Gaza. Saudi Arabia has provided more than $5.3 billion in support for Palestinians across 289 projects, including $185 million since the latest escalation in 2023. Riyadh is now working with various UN agencies to raise $106 billion for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.

Turkiye has supplied around $16.2 billion in aid to Gaza since October 2023, while the UAE's aid contributions to Gaza since the October war have been valued at $828 million. Egypt, too, has provided aid to Gaza worth nearly $196 million since the start of the war. 

Former USAID policy official Larry Garber notes that any effective reconstruction plan will require substantial resources in both personnel and funds. “Personnel might include security forces, civilian officials in formal governance roles, and technical advisers. The personnel also may have to meet a minimal vetting by Israeli authorities, depending on how they will be entering Gaza,” he said.

“Muslim-majority states should support locally-based and resilient reconstruction plans to ensure reconstruction actions respond to local needs and satisfy the ambitions of Gazan people,” says Abdalrahman Kittana, a postdoctoral research fellow at Finland’s Tampere University and an assistant professor of architectural engineering at Palestine’s Birzeit University.  

Beyond state-level support, Muslim populations - including doctors, engineers, and other specialists - can contribute by volunteering in Gaza. Kittana also suggests that offering remote job opportunities, particularly in the IT sector, and providing financial donations could further aid in the reconstruction process.

Egypt’s reconstruction plan

Egypt has already proposed a five-year $53 billion plan to rebuild Gaza, as an alternative to US President Donald Trump’s proposal to develop the enclave after depopulating it.

Endorsed by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the plan envisions completing the reconstruction over the next five years. 

The proposal includes three phases, starting with the removal of rubble, construction of temporary housing, and restoration of partially damaged homes. The second phase envisions the establishment of utility networks and construction of housing units for 1.6 million people, while the third would involve completing housing for Gaza’s population, launching an industrial zone and technology hub, building fishing and commercial seaports, and developing an airport.

Egyptian businessman Hisham Talaat Moustafa, CEO of real estate developer TMG Holding, offers a more optimistic timeline. In a televised interview, he argued that Gaza’s reconstruction could be completed in three just years at a cost of $27 billion. His plan includes constructing 200,000 housing units to accommodate 1.3 million residents, with the involvement of 40 to 50 construction companies, both local and international.

Kittana believes Egypt’s proposal is impractical. While acknowledging its theoretical relevance, he argues that the plan was drafted during wartime without consulting Gaza’s local municipalities or residents, leading to critical oversights.

“The figures showing the general masterplans are out of scale architecturally and out of context practically,” Kittana explains. “The plans consider Gaza as ground zero, neglecting topographic, social, and contextual diversity as well as private ownership of the land. They deal with all of Gaza areas as if they were completely wiped out, raising questions about what they will do with undamaged or relatively sound buildings and areas.”

Furthermore, he notes that both the spatial plans and architectural typologies fail to align with Gazans’ social identity.

Kittana refers to the Gaza Phoenix Framework for the reconstruction of the strip as a more viable solution, describing it as a well-developed plan. Launched by Gaza municipalities and Palestinian grassroot communities, it encompasses fields such as urban planning, architecture, political strategies, economics, environment, and heritage.

Challenges and considerations

The success of Gaza’s reconstruction depends on multiple factors, including the stability of the three-phase ceasefire agreement and Israel’s position on material imports and border controls.

Following a renewed escalation during Ramadan last month, Egypt proposed a new ceasefire plan. 

“I don't think any country, Muslim or otherwise, has ‘committed’ any funds, which is wise on their part,” Garber says. “They should understandably wait until they can be reasonably certain that new fighting will not resume, and that the reconstruction process can proceed without impediments caused by delays in moving materials into Gaza.”

Moreover, some Muslim nations, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have indicated that their financial support is contingent on a clear pathway toward Palestinian statehood.

“I understand there are distinct positions even among the countries that participated in the discussions leading up to the Cairo summit,” Garber says. “My sense is that plans for trade routes should be included in the rebuilding plans, but that the initial priorities will require the restoration of essential services.”

While many Muslim-majority countries have expressed willingness to contribute, the real challenge will be sustaining long-term commitments rather than providing only short-term relief.