Gaza’s Debris and the Road to Reconstruction

The Scale of Gaza’s Rubble

The war in Gaza has reduced much of the Gaza Strip to rubble. The debris amounts to nearly 68 million tons, according to the U.N. Development Program (UNDP), which is managing rubble removal in Gaza. 

Removing the extensive debris “is considered a basic prerequisite for beginning reconstruction under Phase Two” of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan. Ultimately, the rubble-removal project is necessary for “a Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza” — as noted in the 20-point plan — to move forward. While Trump is eager to start phase two, the removal will be a vast undertaking that is expected to take years to complete and cost over a billion dollars.

Where Trump’s Peace Plan Stands

As reported in early December 2025, President Trump “plans to force the sides to move on” to phrase two, with a timetable shaped by his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjmain Netanyahu in late 2025. The intention to transition to phase two was reiterated on Jan. 22, 2026, in Davos, Switzerland, when Trump formally ratified the “Charter of the Board of Peace.”

A week earlier, the president announced the establishment of the board and other groups to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and governance transition. The board is chaired by Trump himself, with former U.N. diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, serving as high representative for Gaza, and Major General Jasper Jeffers, acting as commander of the International Stabilization Force.

Israel’s reopening of Gaza’s key Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Feb. 3, initially planned for the first phase of Trump’s ceasefire plan, signals that the parties are indeed moving toward implementation.

Turning Debris Into a Resource

Still, removing Gaza’s rubble is essential for phase two to fully and effectively commence. As Alessandro Mrakic, who oversees the UNDP office in Gaza, stated, “We are looking for innovative solutions” to address this task.

Transforming the debris into the foundation for artificial islands along Gaza’s Mediterranean coastline could be one such solution. If the ceasefire holds and the war in Gaza ends, this approach could simultaneously address waste management, expand livable space, and catalyze economic development in one of the world’s most densely populated areas. It could also constitute a step toward transforming Trump’s 20-point plan from a vision to on-the-ground action.

Traditional disposal methods of the rubble in Gaza would require years of work, massive landfills, and significant environmental and fiscal costs. However, this debris represents a ready-made, cost-effective foundation material for land reclamation projects. Rather than viewing this waste as a burden, it could be recognized as an abundant resource for Gaza’s reconstruction.

Artificial island construction using recycled materials is not experimental; it is an established engineering practice. Japan has pioneered this approach for decades, creating Kansai International Airport on an artificial island built partly from construction waste. Other Japanese projects were, at least partially, built using construction waste, city waste, landfill, or similar fill materials: Yumenoshima and Central Breakwater Islands in Tokyo Bay, as well as Maishima and Sakishima in Osaka Bay. Dubai’s Palm Islands and The World archipelago demonstrate how land reclamation can transform coastal regions. Working to hold back the sea for centuries, the Netherlands has honed techniques for creating stable, inhabitable land from water. These examples prove that technical knowledge exists and is transferable.

“Clearing this debris is a prerequisite for long-term reconstruction,” the UNDP report notes. The report continues, “It is the first step to restoring livelihoods and local markets, re-opening hospitals and schools and enabling humanitarian partners to reach communities with lifesaving assistance.” Artificial island construction could be a path toward Gaza’s economic and social restoration.

Artificial Islands Could Accelerate Recovery

Artificial islands offer multiple transformative benefits as well as prospects for prosperity, both major vehicles for peace.

1. Expanding space without displacing communities: Artificial islands can provide much needed expansion space without relocating existing communities or consuming agricultural land. During the two-year war, at least 1.9 million people have been displaced — both internally and externally — across Gaza, according to the U.N. Additionally, data relating to the Gaza Strip’s population size speaks to the need for added space; with approximately 15,000 people per square mile across its entire 139 square mile area, the strip is one of the world’s most densely populated territories. Expanding seaward could ease this density while creating zones for residential, commercial, and recreational development.
    
2. Transforming debris into an economic asset: Constructing artificial islands is posed to solve the debris issue cost effectively. Rather than undertaking an expensive and time-consuming removal, transportation, and disposal process, the rubble can become valuable infrastructure material, reducing reconstruction costs significantly. The economic logic is compelling — turn a liability into an asset.
    
3. Attracting international funding and support: The project would combine humanitarian reconstruction with environmental remediation and innovative urban planning, which is an initiative highly capable of attracting multilateral funding and technological assistance. Organizations, such as the World Bank and U.N. agencies, along with the Gulf states and other nations, have shown interest in Gaza’s reconstruction; a visionary project of this scale could mobilize historic support and resources.
    
4. Generating trade and employment: Artificial islands could serve as economic zones, potentially including a modernized port facility to improve Gaza’s maritime access and trade capacity, while accounting for security concerns. Tourism and recreation areas could provide employment and improve the quality of life in Gaza. The construction phase alone would likely generate thousands of jobs and, thus, provide immediate economic relief.
    
5. Accelerating the rehabilitation and reconstruction process: Instead of removing and disposing of the debris at great expense and then beginning reconstruction in the limited area of land, the artificial island approach would enlarges the Gaza Strip surface and avoid the costs of debris disposal. In turn, this work could more quickly facilitate the transition from phase one into phase two. It would also convey a message of hope for Palestinians in Gaza by enabling not only reconstruction, but also further development and prosperity within a shorter timeframe.
    
6. Fostering regional cooperation: International expertise, regional funding, and local labor could combine in a shared reconstruction effort that transcends political divisions through practical problem-solving. Additionally, Israel could play a focal role within regional dynamics that could redirect recent tensions toward a less destructive path.

Strategic and Environmental Opportunities

Proper environmental safeguards would also be essential. Sorting the debris to remove hazardous materials and protecting marine ecosystems should be necessary steps in the construction process. While artificial islands introduce environmental challenges, these would be manageable with appropriate planning and oversight. The alternative — leaving postwar debris in place or creating massive onshore landfills — pose their own environmental risks.

Indeed, in projects such as Kansai Airport, a sinking problem developed over time and should be addressed at the outset by considering how climate change could heighten the risk. Nevertheless, the outlook for Kansai is positive, and the airport should remain functional for many decades to come.

This project in Gaza could begin in the Israeli-controlled Rafah area, which has direct access to the Mediterranean Sea. Reports have noted that the area “will serve as a pilot” for Trump’s 20-point plan to construct new neighborhoods.

Gaza’s Debris Drives Reconstruction

Gaza’s reconstruction demands bold — and creative — thinking. Artificial islands represent more than engineering ingenuity. They symbolize transformation, turning destruction into creation, waste into wealth, and devastation into possibility. The technical capability exists; the materials are available; and the need is definite. What is required now is vision, coordination, and commitment to pursuing solutions that not only rebuild Gaza’s significant losses, but also create infrastructure — as stated in point two of Trump’s plan — “for the benefit of the people of Gaza.”

This publication was produced by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Wherever feasible, the material was reviewed by outside experts prior to release. Any errors or omissions are solely the responsibility of the author(s). 

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