Gaza housing devastation totals 352,000 units

• Palestinian housing minister says 352,000 housing units were destroyed during the ‘Israeli’ war on Gaza, with reconstruction facing severe obstacles.
• Restrictions on materials and heavy machinery are delaying debris removal and shelter efforts despite a ceasefire framework.

Palestinian Minister of Public Works and Housing Ahed Faiq Bseiso said the ‘Israeli’ war on Gaza left 352,000 housing units destroyed, warning that major challenges continue to obstruct reconstruction efforts across Gaza.

Speaking Tuesday to the "Voice of Palestine" radio, Bseiso said the scale of destruction has created an unprecedented housing crisis, worsened by harsh winter conditions that have flooded displacement camps and damaged medical facilities.

His remarks came as a severe weather system struck the Gaza Strip since Monday evening, inundating Al-Shifa Hospital and thousands of tents sheltering displaced families.

Massive residential losses

Bseiso said nearly 200,000 housing units were completely destroyed, while about 60,000 others suffered partial damage.

The ‘Israeli’ war that began on October 8, 2023 and lasted 2 years caused destruction to about 90% of civilian infrastructure in the Strip. The United Nations estimates reconstruction costs at $70 billion, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.

Barriers to reconstruction

The minister said rebuilding Gaza faces “major challenges”, foremost among them the destruction of infrastructure and the ‘Israeli’ ban on the entry of construction materials and heavy machinery.

He said around 60 million tons of rubble remain across Gaza, while ‘Israel’ continues to block the entry of the equipment needed to clear debris.

Bseiso also pointed to ‘Israeli’ control over materials classified as dual-use, which are barred from entering Gaza. These restrictions, he said, have obstructed the entry of essential shelter supplies, including tents.

He added that 90–95% of heavy machinery in Gaza was destroyed during the war, making debris removal nearly impossible.

Ceasefire commitments unmet

Bseiso said ‘Israel’ has failed to meet its obligations under the ceasefire agreement that came into force on October 10, including the humanitarian protocol requiring the entry of hundreds of heavy machines to clear rubble.

Gaza authorities say continued delays are preventing meaningful progress toward recovery and reconstruction.

Early recovery plans

Bseiso said the Palestinian government’s early recovery plan for Gaza has identified 294 areas to establish displacement shelters and 10 designated zones for debris collection.

On November 4, Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa announced the circulation of the executive program for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction plan to international partners, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. He said the program outlines a strategic vision for recovery priorities without disclosing further details.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on December 2 that Cairo is coordinating with the United States to hold an international conference on Gaza’s reconstruction.

Second phase of ceasefire

Reconstruction is part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and ‘Israel’, which also includes the formation of a temporary Palestinian technocratic administration, further ‘Israeli’ military withdrawal from Gaza, the creation of a peace council, an international stabilization force, and the disarmament of the movement.

The ceasefire ended the ‘Israeli’ war that resulted in more than 70,000 Palestinian martyrs and over 171,000 wounded.