UNDP Leads Gaza Rubble Clearance as U.S. Reconstruction Plan Stalls

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has begun large-scale collection, sorting, crushing and reuse of rubble in the Gaza Strip. The operation, overseen by UNDP Gaza office head Alessandro Mrakic, aims to rehabilitate roads and create paved areas for shelters and community kitchens. Progress occurs while President Donald Trump’s U.S. plan to surge aid and rebuild Gaza from scratch has stalled.

The October 2023 Israel-Hamas war left Gaza littered with an estimated 61 million tons of debris. Israel maintains movement restrictions in the enclave, citing security concerns, which limit the entry of heavy machinery and fuel needed for large-scale clearance. The U.S. reconstruction proposal, announced after the ceasefire, intended to fund a comprehensive rebuild but has not advanced.

• Rubble volume: ~61 million tons (UNDP estimate).

• Cleared to date: ~287,000 tons removed, described as “the tip of the iceberg.”

• Projected clearance timeline: up to seven years, contingent on unimpeded access to equipment and fuel.

• Reconstruction cost: $71.4 billion over the next decade, per the Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment released by the European Union, United Nations and World Bank.

UNDP officials state that the clearance could be completed in seven years if heavy machinery and consistent fuel supplies are secured. The agency emphasizes coordination with the U.N. Mine Service to detect unexploded ordnance before debris removal. Israel reiterates that its restrictions are driven by security considerations. The U.S. administration has not provided a detailed timeline for the Trump-backed reconstruction plan, and its implementation remains on hold.

Palestinian workers report limited employment alternatives, forcing them to undertake hazardous rubble-handling tasks near the armistice line, where stray fire is possible. Israeli-imposed fuel shortages and machinery limits impede UNDP’s capacity, prompting concerns that the stalled U.S. plan leaves the enclave dependent on ad-hoc clearance efforts rather than a coordinated reconstruction strategy.

Local laborers describe daily exposure to danger while sorting debris, highlighting the urgent need for safe working conditions and reliable income sources.

Sources differ on the ceasefire date that underpins the U.S. reconstruction plan: some cite an “October 2023” ceasefire, while others reference an “October 2025” agreement. Additionally, the U.S. plan’s specific funding mechanisms and implementation schedule remain undisclosed.

• “Beyond the collection (of rubble), we have started sorting, we have started crushing, and, as such, reusing it,” — Alessandro Mrakic, UNDP Gaza Office Head

• “We have used almost the same amount that we have collected.” — Alessandro Mrakic, UNDP Gaza Office Head

• “I can't find any other source of income, that is why I do this work. (You) could get hurt,” — Ibrahim al-Sarsawi, 32, Palestinian worker

• “The war is over, but (this) is the beginning of a new war,” — Sobhi Dawoud, 60, displaced Palestinian in Khan Younis

UNDP plans to expand crushing operations, secure additional fuel shipments, and continue coordination with de-mining teams. Completion of the seven-year clearance schedule is essential before large-scale reconstruction can proceed, pending the activation of the U.S. funding package and any easing of Israeli movement restrictions.