The price tag to rebuild Gaza after two years of war could soar as high as $70 billion, and experts warn that the reconstruction effort could take decades, according to a new report from the Emirati outlet Aram News.

The report draws on figures from both Hamas authorities and the Central Bank of Gaza, which have issued separate but similarly dire assessments of the territory’s devastation. Hamas estimates the total damage to vital sectors — including housing, infrastructure, energy, health, and education — at $70 billion, while the Central Bank places the cost of recovery and reconstruction closer to $53 billion.

The scale of destruction is staggering. Between 51 and 61 million tons of debris now cover the Gaza Strip, much of it mixed with unexploded ordnance, according to engineers and relief organizations cited in the report. Experts predict that clearing the rubble alone could take 10 to 15 years under current conditions.

The cleanup effort — which includes locating and neutralizing unexploded munitions — is projected to cost $1.2 billion, with the debris expected to fill hundreds of thousands of truckloads. One engineer working with a regional NGO told Aram News that the process would be “the most difficult and dangerous stage,” warning that “every collapsed building may still hide explosives.”

Adding to the challenge, Israel continues to impose restrictions on the entry of heavy engineering machinery into Gaza. Reconstruction planners say that without those machines, rebuilding efforts will move at a crawl. Aram News reported that under existing restrictions, rebuilding all destroyed homes could take up to 80 years — nearly a century-long recovery process.

Roughly 300,000 housing units — about 60 percent of Gaza’s total housing stock — have been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced. Roads, schools, water and power networks, and hospitals have also suffered catastrophic damage.

“The level of destruction is unprecedented in Gaza’s history,” said a Middle Eastern reconstruction specialist quoted in the report. “The cost and complexity of recovery will depend on political stability, the flow of materials, and international willingness to invest.”

In the wake of the Sharm el-Sheikh international summit, Arab and European governments have begun preparing for a series of meetings aimed at crafting a framework for Gaza’s reconstruction. According to Arab diplomats cited by Aram News, these talks will focus on how to secure funding, not on the technical aspects of rebuilding.

“The key issue is money,” one diplomat said. “Every country is waiting to see who will contribute and under what conditions. Without clear financial commitments, the rebuilding plan cannot move forward.”

The discussions, expected to take place in Cairo, Doha, and Brussels, will include representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, France, and the European Union. Sources say the goal is to coordinate an international reconstruction mechanism that can guarantee transparency and ensure aid is not diverted for political or military use.

Diplomats are also emphasizing the need to establish an internationally accepted governing body to oversee the reconstruction process — one capable of maintaining order, distributing aid fairly, and preventing renewed conflict with Israel.

“The international community will not pour billions into Gaza without assurances of stability and accountability,” a European envoy told Aram News. “There must be a credible civilian authority to manage the rebuilding — not armed factions.”

Even with massive international support, experts say full reconstruction could take more than a generation. “We’re looking at a 25- to 30-year process at minimum,” said one regional development analyst. “That’s assuming the political situation stays stable — which, in Gaza, is never guaranteed.”

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