The future of Gaza: existing plans can frame a locally inclusive and risk-sensitive reconstruction

Abstract

The reconstruction of Gaza risks being a rapid, top-down and externally driven process that fails to acknowledge existing, endogenous plans, and sidelines local and regional expertise. Short-term, externally oriented planning approaches also tend to downplay consideration of, and investment in, longer-term issues. Key among these is disaster risk reduction, including climate change adaptation. As a counterpoint to these tendencies, in this paper we highlight three existing urban development and reconstruction plans. None are perfect, but each provides useful lessons. Two are focused on Gaza: the Connected Gaza initiative of 2016 was led by Gazan private sector perspectives to present an integrated regional vision and land-use plan emphasizing local participation; Egypt's plan for Gaza reconstruction, proposed in 2025, also emphasizes designing for Gazan residents. Both remain propositions. The third, the Antakya/Hatay earthquake reconstruction plan, T & uuml;rkiye, is an example of a deployed reconstruction plan, endogenous to the Middle East and North Africa Region, that similarly emphasizes local participation and could provide lessons for planning Gaza's reconstruction.