After fifteen months, the achievement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas invites us to take stock of the damage suffered by the Gaza Strip due to Israeli bombardments. Tallying the effects on the urban fabric might seem a grim accounting, especially considering the casualty toll – approximately 46,000 according to the latest figures from the Hamas Ministry of Health, a number underestimated by 40% according to a recent Lancet study – and the heavy losses borne by civilians and children. However, the consequences of what many intellectuals and journalists, like Yousif al-Daffaie and Peter Harling, have termed “urbicide” will significantly influence the resources and timeline needed to restore basic living conditions in the Strip. This includes repairing essential services such as electricity, water, and sewage networks, the operation of public buildings like hospitals and schools, and the availability of shelters – long before actual reconstruction can even be contemplated.

The Strip’s monumental heritage, reflecting a region that has been a crossroads of civilizations and a hub of cultural and commercial exchange between Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East for millennia, has not been spared. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has meticulously documented the damage to historic buildings. Its latest report, dated December 5, 20241, lists 75 sites destroyed or partially destroyed, including 6 monuments, 48 buildings of historical and artistic interest, 1 museum, and 7 archaeological sites. Among them are the third-century monastery of Tell Umm Amer, the Byzantine-era Al-Omari Mosque, and the Mamluk fortress Qalaat Barquq. The destruction of modern buildings, such as the Gaza Parliament in November 2023, is also noted.

Regarding infrastructure, provisional figures from major UN agencies, often derived from satellite imagery analysis by Unosat, the UN Satellite Centre, will only be confirmed through on-the-ground verification – a challenging task. As of September 2024, 68% of the road infrastructure has been completely or partially destroyed, and unexploded ordnance further complicates the essential evaluation process needed for recovery planning. The removal of debris is projected to be a lengthy operation, with UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, estimating over fifty million tons of rubble in its December 2024 report. How long could this take? Many estimates converge on at least a decade. Meanwhile, efforts are already underway within the UN to explore recycling this debris and providing off-grid sustainable solutions for electricity and potable water amidst the ruins.
 

As for civil architecture, UNOSAT estimates that 66% of residential buildings have been destroyed or partially damaged, a phenomenon already dubbed “domicide.” The impact on industrial facilities is also significant, with 88% affected, along with 68% of agricultural land, severely hampering economic recovery – a crucial factor, despite the generosity of international aid, for enabling inhabitants to resume living, even in makeshift conditions, in their partially damaged homes.

The environmental impact of the war should not be overlooked either. In the first six months of the conflict, a consortium including the University of London estimated the destruction produced between 420,000 and 650,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). This figure, now compounded by emissions from reconstruction, has been compared to the annual CO2 emissions of several countries. It’s important to note that military-sector greenhouse gas emissions are typically exempt from climate treaty constraints and often go unreported unless voluntarily disclosed by individual states.

What about reconstruction? Given the difficulties outlined, it is likely too early to present detailed plans for a new face for Gaza. The “From Crisis to Prosperity” plan, drawn up by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet in May 2024, envisioned a reunified Strip under Israeli aegis, reimagined with fewer inhabitants, more green spaces, and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The idea of rebuilding Gaza better – Build Back Better – is already under discussion among diplomats and industry experts, advocating for sustainable energy sources, low-emission concrete, and the restoration of local construction techniques such as raw earth. However, the Israeli-Egyptian blockade raises questions about what materials will be allowed in, particularly dual-use items with both civilian and military applications.

Palestinian architects are advocating for a reconstruction process led by local forces and energies, rather than imposed from donor countries. The collective Architects for Gaza, comprised of architects from Gaza, the West Bank, and the diaspora, has been providing educational support to architecture students unable to access their university courses. Their future expertise will be invaluable for a population seeking to rebuild after months in makeshift tents. These students, with their local knowledge, could ideally mediate between grassroots needs and a political will focused on greater resilience in architecture and economic recovery.