A new joint report by Oxfam reveals that rebuilding the Gaza Strip will require an estimated $71.4 billion, seven times the combined cost of all previous reconstruction efforts following Israeli military offensives in Gaza over the past two decades.

The war has killed at least 73,000 Palestinians, injured 173,000, and displaced 1.9 million people. According to a UN-EU-World Bank assessment released in April, Gaza suffered $57.9 billion in total damage and economic losses.

The report, produced with the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) and the Palestine Trade Centre (PalTrade), states that human development has been set back by 77 years. It emphasizes that reconstruction cannot proceed without direct Palestinian involvement.

“Reconstruction is not only a humanitarian task; it is a political one. A plan designed in foreign capitals, however well-funded, would be a cosmetic exercise – simply another form of control over Palestinian land and lives,” said Misyef Jamil, senior researcher at MAS.

Before rebuilding can begin, an estimated 66 million tonnes of rubble must be cleared. The debris is believed to contain unexploded ordnance, posing risks to clearance crews and communities. Additionally, between 8,000 and 11,000 Palestinians are thought to be buried under the rubble, requiring dignified recovery and identification.

The report outlines a five-year, four-phase reconstruction plan costing $71.4 billion: emergency relief and stabilization ($10 billion), early recovery and service restoration ($15 billion), medium-term reconstruction ($25 billion), and long-term development ($20 billion). It insists that Palestinians must lead the process, rejecting externally imposed plans.

Source: www.aljazeera.com