Key Facts and Figures from Reuters

By Tala Ramadan

GAZA – The United Nations has indicated that billions of dollars will be necessary for the reconstruction of Gaza following the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The current hostilities were ignited by an attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7. Below is an overview of the destruction that has occurred in Gaza as a result.

Casualty Figures
The Israeli count estimates that the Hamas attack led to the deaths of 1,200 individuals. In response, Israeli military actions have reportedly claimed the lives of over 41,000 Palestinians and left around 95,000 injured, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

Rubble Clearance Timeline
The United Nations has projected that it will take up to 15 years and cost between $500 million to $600 million to clear the 40 million tonnes of rubble resulting from Israeli airstrikes. This debris is thought to contain asbestos and is likely to include human remains; the Palestinian health ministry estimated in May that roughly 10,000 bodies are still missing beneath the rubble.

Home Destruction
Rebuilding the damaged homes in Gaza may extend at least until 2040, with the potential for the process to continue for many additional decades, according to a U.N. report from May. About 80,000 homes have been documented as destroyed during the conflict. Furthermore, approximately 1.9 million people are internally displaced within the Gaza Strip, many of whom have been uprooted multiple times. The pre-war population of the area was 2.3 million.

Infrastructure Damage
The total estimated damage to Gaza’s infrastructure is around $18.5 billion, impacting residential structures, businesses, industries, and essential services like education, healthcare, and energy. Gaza City has lost nearly all of its water production capacity, with Oxfam reporting that 88% of its water wells and all desalination plants have been damaged or demolished.

Agricultural Impact
More than half of Gaza’s agricultural land, which is crucial for feeding the territory’s population, has been compromised by the conflict, as reflected in satellite data analyzed by the United Nations. The findings show a significant decline in orchards, field crops, and vegetables in Gaza, exacerbating food insecurity after months of bombardment.

Damage to Educational and Religious Institutions
An August report from the Gaza Government Media Office outlined the destruction of significant public facilities. The conflict has led to the demolition of 200 government structures, 122 educational institutions, and numerous religious sites, including 610 mosques and three churches. Amnesty International’s Crisis Evidence Lab noted that by May 2024, over 90% of buildings along Gaza’s eastern boundary—totaling more than 3,500 structures—were either destroyed or severely damaged.