From Destruction to Reconstruction: Dr. Faiz Al-Masri Offers Insights on Governance Policies for Rebuilding Gaza

Emphasizing the need to shift from immediate projects to a sustainable developmental vision

Since 2008, the Gaza Strip has been living a unique and complicated situation of continuous conflict between destruction and reconstruction. The repeated wars have not only destroyed infrastructure and public services but have also caused enormous human and material losses, making any reconstruction process a significant challenge on both administrative and political levels.

Policy and governance expert Dr. Faiz Mahmoud Al-Masri believes that the reconstruction of Gaza cannot be reduced to the construction of homes and schools; rather, it must be a comprehensive process aimed at building institutional and strategic capacities that ensure the sustainability of projects and improve the quality of life for residents in the long term.

Political and Administrative Complexities

Al-Masri confirms that the challenges facing reconstruction in Gaza are primarily political and administrative, as the Palestinian division between Gaza and the West Bank has led to a lack of unified decision-making and a comprehensive vision. Additionally, the multiplicity of donors and the interweaving of regional and international policies have weakened the Palestinian government's ability to plan and implement.

He adds that the weakness of institutional capacities, the scattering of legal references, and the difficulty of coordination among various actors have often made reconstruction projects unintegrated and unsustainable, perpetuating a cycle of temporary partial reconstruction.

A Recurring Cycle of Destruction and Reconstruction
Gaza has gone through a series of wars since 2008, starting from the first aggression (2008–2009) that inflicted extensive damage on homes, hospitals, and schools, followed by the wars of 2012, 2014, and 2021, culminating in the recent war that extended between 2023 and 2025.

Each round of these wars has deepened the destruction and increased rates of displacement and unemployment, causing the sector to live in a continuous cycle of destruction and reconstruction, according to Al-Masri, who emphasizes that any new policy must be based on resilience and sustainability, not just on emergency response.

Multiple Actors and Coordination Challenges
The responsibilities for reconstruction are distributed among several parties, most notably the Palestinian government, which lays down official plans but faces difficulties in implementation due to the division, and international organizations such as UNRWA, the UN Development Programme, and UNICEF, which implement vital projects despite limited funding. Donor countries like Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, and the United States also play pivotal roles but according to varying political priorities.

The civil society and the local private sector contribute to small and specific projects that are essential to meet the immediate needs of the population.

Al-Masri points out that the weak coordination among these entities constitutes the biggest challenge, as projects sometimes repeat or lack integration, in the absence of a central authority overseeing the comprehensive planning and management of reconstruction efforts.

Gaps in Planning and Governance

Al-Masri evaluates the planning and management policies in Gaza as still lacking integration and long-term vision. Most projects, as he indicates, "have been scattered and not unified, without being integrated into a comprehensive national strategy," while the intertwining of politics with management has led to conflicting priorities and delays in implementation.

He adds that heavy reliance on external funding renders projects susceptible to the fluctuations of donors, while bureaucracy and centralization weaken oversight on the quality of execution, negatively impacting the effectiveness of reconstruction and sustainable development.

Social and Economic Dimensions
The social and economic conditions impose additional pressures on reconstruction efforts. The Israeli blockade and restrictions on the entry of building materials hinder project implementation, while unemployment and poverty rates rise to unprecedented levels. Furthermore, internal displacement and psychological pressures on the population make it essential for reconstruction projects to have humanitarian and social dimensions, not just engineering ones.

Proposed Model for Sustainable Reconstruction
Dr. Al-Masri proposes a new model based on five main pillars:
1. Establishing an independent national authority to oversee all reconstruction projects.
2. Enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of funds and resources.
3. Linking reconstruction to national development plans to ensure its continuity.
4. Engaging the local community and private sector in all phases.
5. Participatory and decentralized planning to meet the needs of each area individually.

Lessons and Recommendations
According to Al-Masri, one of the most important lessons learned is that having a unified strategic vision is essential to avoid waste and ensure the sustainability of projects, alongside strengthening institutional capacities and linking reconstruction to economic and social development. He also calls for leveraging international and Arab experiences in post-conflict urban rebuilding to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Al-Masri concludes his discussion by emphasizing that "rebuilding Gaza is not merely the reconstruction of destroyed buildings, but an opportunity to rebuild strong and sustainable institutions," stressing that effective governance, continuous funding, and long-term strategic planning can transform Gaza from a cycle of destruction to a leading development model that ensures a better life for future generations.