68 million tons of rubble cover the Gaza Strip today, over two years since the outbreak of the conflict with Israel sparked by Hamas' brutal attack on October 7, 2023.
The Jewish state's retaliatory offensive is estimated to have damaged or destroyed about two-thirds of all homes. In Gaza City and Rafah the figure is even higher. The new Interim Administration for the Gaza Strip held its first meeting.
“The Palestinians have been eagerly awaiting the establishment of this committee and the start of its work,” the committee’s head, Ali Shaath, said after the meeting in Cairo. The enclave had been ruled for nearly two decades by the Islamist militant group Hamas. The Islamist militant terrorist group Hamas and the Palestinian Authority agreed three days ago on the composition of the 15-member Palestinian technocratic body.
In an interview with Egyptian state media, Shaathi said he wants to focus first on rebuilding infrastructure and the economy. He said this could take about three years, with a particular emphasis on building new housing. Many displaced people in the area are still living in tents.
Now, the ways of cleaning up the debris are being discussed. Shaathi's statement that the rubble could be bulldozed into the sea was met with skepticism in both Gaza and Israel. Unexploded ordnance is a particular problem, as it complicates cleanup efforts. The United Nations estimates the cost of reconstruction at around $50 billion, and the process could last until 2040.
