The Emirati website Aram News on Wednesday reported estimates regarding the cost and timeframe for Gaza’s reconstruction. Hamas claims the damage to key sectors amounts to $70 billion, while the Central Bank estimates that $53 billion will be needed for recovery and rebuilding.
Experts predict that clearing the rubble alone could take between 10 and 15 years. The report noted that if Israel’s restrictions on heavy engineering equipment remain in place, rebuilding all homes could take as long as 80 years.
Current estimates in the Strip indicate that between 51 and 61 million tons of debris—including unexploded ordnance—must be removed. The cleanup cost is estimated at $1.2 billion, with the process expected to take about a decade. In total, around 300,000 housing units were destroyed, representing 60 percent of Gaza’s half-million homes.
In this context, Arab diplomats confirmed that following the recent international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, preparations are underway for meetings between Arab and European leaders in the near future. These discussions will focus on reconstruction plans and the conditions for securing financial donations.
Diplomatic sources said that the central issue in these talks is funding, which will determine the extent of each country’s participation. They emphasized that the discussions are not primarily about technical or logistical details, but rather about ensuring stability in Gaza through the establishment of an internationally accepted governing body.
The success of any rebuilding plan depends on the establishment of a stable governing authority in Gaza after removing Hamas from power, the report said. The countries involved want to ensure that the security situation in Gaza stabilizes, with no risk of renewed conflict with Israel or internal fighting.
This article was originally published in Israel Hayom.
