What would it take to rebuild Gaza?

Despite Trump’s ambitions, rebuilding Gaza is not an easy affair. The United Nations estimates that just to repair direct damage to infrastructure in Gaza could cost $18.5 billion, which makes up nearly the entire combined GDP of the West Bank and Gaza.

Cost of rebuilding Gaza

A damage assessment report released by the UN in January stated that the war had left behind over 50 million tons of rubble, which could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion to clear.

Around 60 per cent of all buildings and 57 per cent of agricultural land in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a UN report released last year. At least 92 per cent of all housing units have been destroyed, per the latest figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). On January 28, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FOA) under the UN said, “Rebuilding Gaza’s agricultural sector will be extremely expensive and will take years, if not decades.” It sought at least $74.5 million to assist those engaged in agricultural activity.

Nearly 1.9 million Palestinians of the estimated 2.1 million population have been internally displaced due to the war, OCHA data states. Of these, at least 3,45,000 people face catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

The conflict has left behind flailing education and health services. Over 6.25 lakh students have no access to education. At least 88 per cent of all school buildings (nearly 500) need reconstruction. Only 18 out of 36 hospitals are partially functioning currently. A majority of Palestinians are also struggling to meet the daily requirements of nutrition and water.

Who will rebuild Gaza?

Speaking to Bloomberg TV on January 30, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said that they would rebuild Gaza with help from the US and Saudi Arabia. He, however, rejected Trump’s January 26 remarks about resettling Palestinians in countries like Jordan and Egypt to “clean out” the war-torn land.

“They are determined to continue to live in Gaza… We can fix the place without (displacing them),” Mustafa said. The Prime Minister also said that he was in touch with the World Bank, United Nations and European Union to ensure necessary aid for Gaza.

Several international aid agencies are engaged in providing humanitarian assistance and infrastructural support in Gaza.

What has Donald Trump said?

On Wednesday, Trump proposed rebuilding Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East”, where the “world’s people” would live, including Palestinians.

“I don’t want to be cute. I don’t want to be the wise guy but the Riviera of the Middle East… this could be so magnificent,” Trump proposed. When asked on what authority would Trump take over the land, the US President did not provide a direct answer at the press briefing.

Trump also reiterated his calls for Egypt, Jordan and “many other countries” to accept Palestinians. This time, he added the word “permanently”.

“Gaza is a demolition site right now… there’s hardly a building standing right now. I think we need another location right now. If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people permanently in nice homes, and then they can be happy enough, not be shot, not be killed, not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza,” Trump said.

While Netanyahu said that the idea was “worth paying attention to”, many others were quick to rebuke Trump’s proposal. Hamas said that the US President’s statements were “a recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region.” Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia issued a statement reiterating its support for the two-state solution for Palestine.