Most visions for Gaza’s reconstruction lack mechanisms for transparency, Portland Trust finds

More than 30 proposals for reconstructing the Gaza Strip present fundamentally different visions for its urban and economic structures, according to an analysis by The Portland Trust. The Palestinian territory suffered heavy damage after Hamas's October 7 attack and the subsequent war with Israel.

Reconstruction plans vary significantly. Some, like those from the United Nations Development Program and the Arab League, focus on large-scale housing reconstruction to facilitate the return of displaced residents, largely rejecting major layout changes. Other initiatives, including those by RAND, Palestine Emerging, Anthedon, and Connected Gaza, emphasize improved spatial organization and expanded transport networks. The Board of Peace proposes a model centered on new residential complexes alongside designated tourism and development zones.

With 1.9 million Palestinians displaced into temporary housing, sanitation and water access have become critical concerns, exacerbated by warnings of rat infestations and health crises due to inadequate infrastructure. The World Health Organization reported approximately 17,000 pest-related infections over the past year, prompting the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) to deliver pesticides.

Approaches to water and sanitation infrastructure also differ. Some actors, such as the Palestinian Authority and UNDP, prioritize repairing existing facilities like desalination and wastewater plants to prevent sewage overflows and enable rapid recovery. Conversely, organizations like the Arab League and Future Gaza favor modernizing infrastructure by expanding desalination capacity, building new treatment plants, and creating integrated utility corridors within redesigned urban districts.