Rebuilding in Gaza on hold as Israel restricts entry of materials and supplies

As Israelis head to the polls Tuesday, Gazans remain in limbo, waiting for reconstruction of the devastated territory on a scale that would allow families to return to normality, a promise made as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last year. The fighting has largely stopped, but almost no progress has been made on rebuilding.

Aisha Abdullah, 70, lives with her children and grandchildren in a damaged six-storey building in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. She says the family has made basic repairs in an attempt to remain in their home.

“We had to replace parts of the walls with nylon sheets and confine ourselves to a small area that we managed to repair. But the building is still leaning, and part of the roof has collapsed,” she said. “We have repeatedly been warned to leave because the building could collapse. But I cannot live in a tent because of my age and illness, and I cannot afford to rent a house because rents are so high.”

Funding shortages force World Food Programme to cut aid to 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza

A joint assessment by the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank, released in April, estimates that Gaza needs US$71.4-billion over 10 years for recovery and reconstruction. It says more than 371,000 housing units had been damaged or destroyed.

Some residents, such as Mrs. Abdullah’s family, are trying to repair what remains of their homes with whatever materials they can find. Others are still living in damaged buildings or temporary shelters. As winter approaches, fear of rain and flooding is growing, especially among displaced people living in tents that offer little protection.

The obstacles are not limited simply to a lack of resources. In a statement published by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office in August, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not allow reconstruction to begin before Hamas was fully disarmed.

Israel suspends commercial goods entry into Gaza, a key source of supply for the war-torn territory

Israel is preventing the entry of equipment and spare parts needed to remove rubble and restart construction, said Osama Kuhail, a former head of the Gaza Contractors Union. “This obstructs any serious effort to rebuild,” he said.

Gaza’s construction sector has also suffered extensive damage to its offices and equipment.

Mr. Kuhail said the number of construction companies in Gaza has fallen from more than 300 before the war to fewer than 200 today, warning that the halt in work threatens the skills and capacity needed for reconstruction.

Ismail Al-Thawabta, director-general of Gaza’s Government Media Office, said funding allocated for reconstruction has not yet been turned into projects that match the scale of destruction in the territory.

“What is happening on the ground is still limited to minor repairs and temporary relief efforts,” he said.

Restrictions on the entry of construction materials, heavy equipment and fuel are also obstructing rubble removal and infrastructure repairs, delaying the actual start of reconstruction, he added.

He said funding promises have yet to make a difference in residents’ lives.

“The rebuilding of homes, infrastructure and major economic facilities remains on hold. International pledges have not turned into practical steps that would allow people to return to a stable life.”