Gaza reconstruction: $2.5bn clean-up operation expected to take decade

The scale of destruction across Gaza has created an unprecedented waste management challenge, with approximately 40 million tonnes of rubble currently scattered throughout the territory. Clearing this debris represents one of the most significant reconstruction hurdles facing the Palestinian enclave, requiring substantial international financial commitment and logistical coordination.

Estimates suggest that removing and processing the rubble will cost around $2.5 billion and take approximately ten years to complete. The sheer volume of material presents a complex engineering problem, as much of the waste cannot be easily transported out of Gaza but must instead be processed locally.

Dorreen Al-Karadi, owner of the waste recycling company Talawer Al-Karadi, highlighted the practical difficulties of the operation. “Waste recycling and processing work can only be done on site—and we’re talking about an enormous quantity,” she explained. The scale of destruction means that even with dedicated recycling efforts, the timeline for full clearance remains lengthy.

The reconstruction effort will require not only significant financial resources but also the establishment of processing facilities and infrastructure within Gaza itself. Experts warn that without rapid international support and coordination, the debris removal could become a bottleneck that delays broader reconstruction efforts and the territory’s economic recovery.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.