Palestine announces national team for Gaza reconstruction efforts

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa has declared the formation of a national team dedicated to the reconstruction of Gaza.

In a live broadcast from Ramallah on October 8, Mustafa stated that the state has already provided assistance to over 400,000 individuals in Gaza and will continue these efforts, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

According to a UN Development Program official, the total cost of reconstructing the Gaza Strip could reach $50 billion.

Abdullah Al-Dardari, director of the UNDP Regional Office for Arab States, emphasized the dire situation that will arise following a potential ceasefire, noting that the most challenging phase will be the immediate aftermath as displaced individuals await the start of reconstruction.

The conflict in Gaza escalated after Hamas's provocations against Israel on October 7, leading to Israel's military operations that have reportedly resulted in nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's health ministry. The violence has displaced almost the entire population of 2.3 million in the enclave, causing a hunger crisis and triggering genocide allegations against Israel, which the country denies.

The war has also extended regionally, involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. Israel has intensified its military actions in Lebanon, resulting in hundreds of deaths and displacing over a million people, as it aims to dismantle Hezbollah.

In response to escalating tensions, Iran launched a missile attack against Israel this week, which Israel has not yet addressed. The Israeli military has conducted targeted raids against Hezbollah in southwest Lebanon and expanded its ground operations, following a limited ground incursion into southern Lebanon after the death of key Hezbollah leaders.

Recent months have seen significant global protests against the killing and destruction in Gaza, including large demonstrations in the US. However, these events have also raised concerns about rising antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric, as well as threats against both Muslim and Jewish communities worldwide.

By Vafa Guliyeva