 "Israel-Hamas ceasefire phase-2 hits new hurdle — who will fund Gaza rebuilding?")
Even as consensus eludes key issues of Hamas’ disarmament and withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from the Gaza Strip, the progress to the second phase has hit a new hurdle — the funding for the reconstruction of Gaza.
In the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Hamas is supposed to be disarmed and Israeli soldiers are supposed to withdraw. These actions will make way for the reconstruction of Gaza, which has been battered from two years of airstrikes, ground combat, and demolition drives.
Even as US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan has mentioned Gaza’s reconstruction, it did not outline the specifics or announce any funding.
As Qatar has announced it would not write a blank cheque and estimates have suggested huge sums required for reconstruction, the question is where such sums are going to come from.
How much will it take to rebuild Gaza?
The rebuilding of Gaza could take up to $70 billion and 32 years could be required to just clear the rubble and remove explosives buried in the rubble, according to a report by the United Nations (UN), World Bank, and the European Union (EU).
A separate UN report previously found that the war has destroyed or damaged 92 per cent of all homes in Gaza.
Even in the best-case scenario, simply removing rubble could take 22 years and clearing unexploded ordnance may take up to 10 years, according to Mutasim Elagraa, the coordinator of the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTD) Palestinian programme.
In the most optimistic scenario where there is full access to reconstruction materials and funds, “it will take decades for Gaza to regain the level of economic activity it had before the latest conflict”, as per Elagraa.
Quick Reads
View AllWho will pay for reconstruction?
This is apparently one of the pressing questions stalling progress on the ceasefire agreement.
Qatar, the principal mediator in the peace process, has said it would not foot the bill and indicated it expects Israel to fund the reconstruction.
“We are not the ones who are going to write the check to rebuild what others destroyed. When you are talking about Gaza. Israel flattened this land,” Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Sunday.
The Qatari government later said it would be open to join a larger body of donors to fund the reconstruction.
So far, only the EU and China have pledged $1.87 billion $100 million respectively for the reconstruction.
 "What the dramatic US seizure of Venezuela-linked oil tanker tells us")
 "Should Ukraine concede territory to Russia? Zelenskyy wants Ukrainians to vote in referendum")
 "Who is Kilmar Ábrego García, the man ‘mistakenly’ deported by US, now freed?")
 "Trump's new tax guidance could let companies save billions more")
 "What the dramatic US seizure of Venezuela-linked oil tanker tells us")
 "Should Ukraine concede territory to Russia? Zelenskyy wants Ukrainians to vote in referendum")
 "Who is Kilmar Ábrego García, the man ‘mistakenly’ deported by US, now freed?")
 "Trump's new tax guidance could let companies save billions more")
