Large-scale reconstruction in Gaza remains largely stalled nearly seven months into a fragile ceasefire, with Israeli restrictions on construction materials and unresolved political disputes still blocking rebuilding, according to a new international assessment. [1]
The final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, released last month by the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank, estimates Gaza will need $71.4 billion over the next decade to recover. It says $26.3 billion is required in the first 18 months to restore essential services, repair critical infrastructure and support economic recovery. [1]
The report puts physical infrastructure damage at $35.2 billion and economic and social losses at $22.7 billion. It said recycled rubble is being used to repair hospitals, schools and water infrastructure, but not for new construction projects. Mamoun Besaiso, an adviser to the United Nations on Gaza’s reconstruction, said, “The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) started months ago recycling rubble, and from this recycled rubble we get some construction material. And they use this construction material in repair or not in new construction, repair.” [1]
A separate UN report estimates that between October 2023 and October 2025 at least 92% of Gaza’s housing units were either destroyed or damaged. The figures come as the conflict that began on 2023-10-07 has left much of the territory’s housing stock in ruins and pushed recovery costs higher. [1]
With rebuilding still blocked, the assessment points to the need for continued emergency repairs and limited reuse of debris while larger reconstruction waits on access and political agreements. [1]
