It may take 350 years to rebuild Gaza and its economy after Israel's offensive against Hamas. At least if the area is still subject to a blockade from Israel and Egypt after the war, according to a report from the UN trade organization Unctad.
The Israeli offensive following Hamas' coordinated attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, is one of the deadliest and most destructive since World War II. Entire city districts have been wiped out. Roads and critical infrastructure lie in ruins.
Everyone is now demanding a ceasefire, but people forget that when the ceasefire is finally in place, the 2.2 million Palestinians will wake up without homes, children lack schools, no universities, no hospitals, no roads, says report author Rami Alazzeh.
According to Israel, the blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas from importing weapons.