A senior Palestinian housing official stated on Sunday that the process of rebuilding homes that were destroyed or damaged in Gaza during the war in May between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement (Hamas) will commence in the first week of October with assistance from Qatar. The Hamas-led government in Gaza claims that Israeli airstrikes destroyed approximately 2,200 homes in the territory during the 11 days of fighting and damaged around 37,000 other homes. Some homes in Israel were also damaged due to rockets fired by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza.
Naji Sarhan, the Deputy Minister of Public Works and Housing in the Gaza Strip, mentioned that the first phase will focus on rebuilding about 1,800 of the damaged or destroyed homes. He added that Israel has lifted some restrictions on the entry of reinforcing steel and cement into the territory in recent days. Egypt also began repairing the main coastal road in Gaza last week as part of a broader plan to repair Gaza's infrastructure.
Palestinian officials report that 250 people, including 66 children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Israeli officials state that 13 individuals, including two children, were killed in Israel due to rockets launched by Palestinian factions.
Following a ceasefire on May 21 mediated by Egypt, obtaining funds and materials for reconstruction has become a key demand for Hamas. Israel restricts the entry of construction materials into the territory, citing that Hamas uses them to manufacture weapons for attacks. However, following an agreement with the United Nations and Qatar, Israel allowed around $20 million in aid from the Gulf state into Gaza this month. Sarhan reported that this payment will be followed by $50 million in Qatari funds designated for rebuilding homes.
Officials in Gaza estimate that the cost of reconstructing the damaged homes and infrastructure from the May fighting could reach $479 million. Both Qatar and Egypt have pledged to provide $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza.
