Hours after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from areas of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian social media channels have documented various pieces of military equipment left behind by the departing forces. Local civilians returning to former combat zones have shared images showing abandoned equipment and debris.
According to the documentation, some of the abandoned equipment has been converted into garbage bins, while other pieces are now being used as play equipment for children in Gaza. Additional debris from destroyed equipment remains where it was left in the field.
A World Health Organization report released in the last 24 hours estimates that $3 billion will be needed over the next 18 months for Gaza's rehabilitation. Rebuilding Gaza's destroyed healthcare system alone will require approximately $10 billion over the next five to seven years.
The report describes the current situation in stark terms: "Everywhere you look in Gaza you see destruction, Gaza looks like a large cemetery."
The scale of destruction includes approximately 50.8 million tons of debris throughout Gaza. According to the report, clearing this debris will take 14 years and cost $1 billion. The total estimated cost for rehabilitating Gaza stands at $80 billion.
Earlier today, reports indicated that the Trump administration is considering relocating millions of Gazans to Indonesia, as they start to re-build and rehabilitate Gaza, but it's unlikely such a crazy scheme will actually occur.
Trump's proposal, revealed by a single unnamed transition official, faces significant skepticism. Regional nations have consistently opposed accepting Palestinian refugees, concerned about enabling a new refugee crisis. Many Palestinians fear they would be barred from returning to Gaza if they leave.
Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.
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