The battle over Gaza's future: Why no-one can agree on the rebuild

In the midst of a still shaky ceasefire, Gazans are taking the first tentative steps along the long road to recovery.

Bulldozers are clearing roads, shoveling the detritus of war into waiting trucks. Mountains of rubble and twisted metal are on either side, the remains of once bustling neighborhoods.

Parts of Gaza City are disfigured beyond recognition.

This was my house, says Abu Iyad Hamdouna. He points to a mangled heap of concrete and steel in Sheikh Radwan, which was once one of Gaza City's most densely populated neighborhoods. It was here. But there's no house left.

Abu Iyad is 63. If Gaza ever rises from the ashes, he doesn't expect to be around to see it. At this rate, I think it'll take 10 years, he looks exhausted and resigned. We'll be dead... we'll die without seeing reconstruction. Nearby, Nihad al-Madhoun and his nephew pick through the wreckage of what was once a home. The removal of rubble alone might take more than five years, but Nihad and many others have no other option.

The sheer scale of the challenge is staggering with the UN estimating the cost of damage at £53bn ($70bn). Almost 300,000 houses and apartments have been damaged or destroyed. The Gaza Strip is littered with 60 million tonnes of rubble mixed with dangerous unexploded bombs and dead bodies.

Gazans are skeptical of the various reconstruction plans devised abroad, yet many local voices are emerging with their visions for the area’s future. The Phoenix plan, created by Palestinian experts, stands out, focusing on preserving Gaza's history rather than wiping the slate clean with extravagant proposals like the Gaza Riviera suggested by international figures such as Donald Trump.

From Trump's riviera to the Phoenix plan

Currently, local leaders like Yahya al-Sarraj are trying to rebuild amidst the destruction, but numerous international plans collide in the context of political negotiations. Each plan comprises vastly different visions; some pushing for modernized smart cities while others aim for community-driven regeneration.

The Palestinian Authority has proposals focusing on reconnecting Gaza with the West Bank, yet political and security arrangements may hinder progress. In the meantime, citizens like Abu Iyad Hamdouna are left waiting amidst the rubble, crafting makeshift living situations while higher discussions continue regarding a long-term solution to their plight.