Clearing the extensive rubble left in Gaza following recent conflict has become a monumental challenge for humanitarian and reconstruction teams operating in the territory. Engineers and aid workers have been engaged in a painstaking effort to remove debris and restore access to key thoroughfares, but progress remains slow amid ongoing obstacles.
Ahmed Alyan, an engineer with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), described the experience of clearing a section of Beirut Street, a once-bustling road in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City. After a full day’s labor, Alyan found himself surrounded by piles of rubble, likening the effort to “holding a spoon and trying to empty the sea.” The street remains largely deserted, with damaged buildings, exposed sewage from broken drainage systems, and displaced families still residing amid precariously standing structures.
The United Nations estimates that Gaza’s rubble weighs around 61 million tonnes—approximately 20 times the volume of debris generated by all conflicts worldwide over the past 18 years. Jaco Cilliers, special representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Palestine, highlighted the scale of the task, noting it could take seven to ten years and cost billions of dollars to clear the bulk of the war debris. To date, roughly 907,000 tonnes of rubble have been removed, representing only 1.5 percent of the total.
Efforts to clear roads have made it possible to reopen supply routes crucial for humanitarian aid and the movement of residents. Approximately 580 kilometers of roads have been cleared to date. However, significant challenges remain, including the presence of unexploded ordnance and the emotional impact rubble has on affected families. Nehal Abu Hassan of the WFP emphasized that for many residents, debris symbolizes lost homes, lives, and memories—making removal a delicate and sensitive process.
Restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities have further complicated the operation. Equipment needed for large-scale rubble clearance has been largely kept out of Gaza over concerns that materials could be used for military purposes by Hamas. This has limited work to primarily moving debris to the sides of roads to create narrow passages.
In response, the UNDP has initiated a rubble recycling program at five sites across Gaza. Debris is sorted to separate concrete from metal and other materials; the concrete is crushed into smaller pieces, which are then reused in road repair, pothole filling, and creating foundations for tents and shelters. With over 2.1 million displaced persons living in temporary accommodations, such reuse has helped improve living conditions amid limited construction material availability.
The ongoing conflict has also affected territorial access. A ceasefire line established last October has shifted repeatedly as Israeli forces expand control, leaving only about 30 percent of Gaza accessible to residents and aid workers. This dynamic further complicates clearance and reconstruction efforts.
Despite these challenges, clearing rubble has had some positive economic effects. According to Cilliers, when debris blocking shops and businesses is removed, many are able to reopen within a few weeks, providing a critical boost to Gaza’s local economy.
Overall, the combination of the vast scale of destruction, restricted access, unresolved security concerns, and humanitarian sensitivities means that Gaza’s rubble clearance remains one of the most complex and prolonged reconstruction efforts in recent history.