In a seminar on “Gaza Reconstruction: The Role of Engineering,” Egyptian engineers convened with Palestinian experts and officials to discuss reconstruction efforts in Gaza this week. The seminar was part of efforts by leading Egyptian engineers to assess the urgent reconstruction needs of Gaza in preparation for presenting their proposals to the Egyptian government.
“The devastation in Gaza is unprecedented. Residential neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble, once-thriving streets have been turned into ruins, and the infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals, has been systematically obliterated,” said engineer Ibrahim Al-Hindi, president of the Association of Architects in Palestine.
“More than 1.8 million people are in desperate need of emergency shelter,” noted engineer Mohamed Abdel-Ghani, a project management consultant.
Cairo is working on formulating the framework for Gaza’s reconstruction plans in collaboration with universities and Egyptian consultancy firms, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli said during the cabinet’s weekly press conference last week.
“From a technical and engineering perspective, we possess the full capability to restore Gaza to a condition that would be even better than its pre-destruction state within three years,” Madbouli said.
Egypt is putting together proposals to rebuild the Gaza Strip while the Palestinian people remain on their land. The plans include the reconstruction of housing units, vital infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and other essential facilities, with the objective of restoring normal life. Egypt has repeatedly said that the reconstruction process can be executed without displacing the Palestinians.
According to head of the Engineers Syndicate Tarek Al-Nabrawi, the strategy for reconstruction prioritises addressing the widespread destruction and restoring essential living conditions. A key focus is on providing adequate temporary shelter for the population until permanent housing is completed.
The plans also encompass the rebuilding and development of public facilities such as schools and hospitals, as well as the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure to support long-term recovery. Additionally, efforts will be directed towards ensuring the provision of basic services to displaced Palestinians, alleviating their suffering and expediting the return to normal life without displacement, Al-Nabrawi said.
Kamal Sharobim, a professor of materials science at the Faculty of Engineering at the Suez Canal University, noted the importance of sustainable reconstruction practices. He stressed the need to recycle waste from damaged structures, leveraging materials available in Gaza to facilitate rebuilding efforts.
Research has demonstrated that recycled materials can be effectively utilised in the production of high-resistance concrete, bricks, and concrete, as well as interlock and curbstone blocks, in building reconstruction.
The estimated cost of rebuilding Gaza exceeds $80 billion, with an initial phase requiring more than $20 billion over the next three years, Abdel-Ghani said, citing preliminary UN reports.
A critical aspect of the reconstruction effort is securing access to safe drinking water, which has become one of Gaza’s most pressing humanitarian challenges, said Hani Sweilem, minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.
The prolonged war has severely impacted water availability in Palestine, and Israel has restricted access to water, energy, and food, using these as instruments of pressure and control against the Palestinian people, he added.
The war has resulted in a 95 per cent reduction in water supplies, forcing residents to rely on unsafe water and even sewage water, Sweilem stated, noting that this has exacerbated the displacement and is in violation of international humanitarian law.
Additionally, the war has disrupted agriculture and food production, leading to food insecurity, with 2.3 million people facing heightened risks of hunger, said the Palestinian Minister of Irrigation.
Abdel-Qawi Khalifa, a former minister and governor of Cairo, has called for an urgent plan to rapidly restore drinking water supplies for Gaza’s two million residents. He recommended the restoration of functioning wells, as the population previously relied on groundwater sources. The wells, once inspected and equipped with pumps, could operate again, he said.
The lack of data on exact needs is a major challenge of the reconstruction efforts, and this has prompted cooperation between the Egyptian and Palestinian Engineering Syndicates to provide the data needed, said Ahmed Zaki Abdine, head of the Advisory Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza at the Engineers Syndicate.
Al-Nabrawi said that the Engineers Syndicate is in contact with its Palestinian counterpart in Occupied Jerusalem to prepare a study on Gaza’s reconstruction. The exchange of expertise will culminate in an integrated vision that will enhance the efficiency of reconstruction initiatives, he added.
The engineers will leverage modern construction techniques and advanced technology to expedite the rebuilding process while optimising costs, Al-Nabrawi said.
Last week, Egypt sent four heavy bulldozers into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing to clear rubble and reopen roads following 15 months of war. The bulldozers had been stationed at the crossing for days, reported Egyptian satellite channel Extra News.
The entry of the equipment falls within the framework of a humanitarian protocol that mandates the entry of 500 heavy machines, including bulldozers and tractors, to assist in clearing the debris from the war.
Israel has repeatedly attempted to delay this measure.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 27 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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