U.S. Special Envoy Visits Gaza, Estimates Reconstruction Will Take 10 to 15 Years | WPN World People News

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas took effect on the 20th of last month. The war has resulted in 46,000 Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip, with 93% of the local housing damaged. Following his recent visit to Gaza, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, spoke with the media and stated that the area has nearly been completely destroyed, and reconstruction is estimated to take 10 to 15 years.

Witkoff pointed out that people in Gaza are currently moving north to check on the condition of their homes, but due to the lack of water and electricity, the area is uninhabitable, and they are forced to leave again. The extent of the damage to buildings is shocking.

According to British media reports, Hamas estimates that out of every 15 houses in Gaza, 14 have been damaged, with 5 of them completely destroyed, resulting in an estimated 42 million tons of rubble. Satellite images from Gaza's northern region show that nearly all residential areas less than 1 km west of one of Gaza's major hospitals, the Indonesian Hospital, have been destroyed.

In addition, the water supply and sanitation infrastructure have been severely damaged. Before the conflict, 80% of Gaza's water came from underground wells, but currently only 8% of the northern region's water sources are usable. The northern desalination plant, once a crucial source of drinking water, was also destroyed in the fighting. Aid organizations report that 70% of the water transported through damaged pipelines is leaking, and the water supply facilities have been severely impacted.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that out of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip, 50% have ceased operations due to a lack of medical supplies, fuel, and staff, and the remaining hospitals can only provide partial services. According to Palestinian authorities, at least 46,788 people have been killed due to airstrikes and ground assaults, with over 110,000 others injured. While houses and infrastructure can be rebuilt, the loss of life caused by the conflict will have long-lasting and severe consequences.