Gaza Rebuilding Needs Hamas Gone First, Experts Say

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Experts argue that Gaza’s reconstruction faces insurmountable challenges without the complete elimination of Hamas, challenging former President Donald Trump’s recent proposal for U.S.-led rebuilding efforts in the region.

Trump recently shared his vision for Gaza’s future, stating, “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do it too… We’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it’ll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of.”

Urban warfare specialists John Spencer and Collins emphasize a crucial obstacle: the absence of international security oversight. In their analysis, they point out that “No country or international body has stepped forward to provide the necessary security and oversight.” They further note that “Hamas has actively opposed the evacuation of civilians,” implementing roadblocks and using human shields, which severely impedes stabilization efforts.

UNRWA cannot be part of the plan to rebuild Gaza. It didn’t just employ Hamas terrorists—it taught them.

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Senior Fellow at @FDD and Former @IDF Spokesperson @JConricus tells @EylonALevy.

Link to full episode below. pic.twitter.com/JOZuTxWXH0

— Israel: State of a Nation (@stateofapod) February 8, 2025

Spencer, who leads the Urban Warfare Institute as executive director, and Collins, a former Special Forces officer serving as the institute’s deputy director, stress that Gaza requires comprehensive explosive hazard removal, international supervision, and robust security measures against Hamas’s potential return.

The specialists assert that “Before any meaningful rebuilding can begin, Hamas must unilaterally acknowledge its defeat,” adding that “Without Hamas’s total defeat—both militarily and politically—any rebuilding efforts will simply fuel the next war.”

The devastation in Gaza exceeds previous urban conflicts, with UN assessments indicating damage or destruction to 66% of structures. Unlike isolated urban battles in places like Mosul or Aleppo, Gaza’s dense population across multiple urban centers presents unique reconstruction challenges.

The territory’s extensive tunnel network, spanning 350 to 450 miles, serves as a complex system for terrorist operations, weapon storage, and evasion tactics, further complicating rebuilding prospects.

Before reconstruction can commence, experts warn that extensive military clearing operations must address several critical hazards:

– Active munitions buried in debris, estimated at 7,500 metric tons, requiring over ten years to remove
– Buildings rigged with explosives by Hamas
– Weapons caches dispersed throughout underground networks

Drawing parallels to Somalia’s humanitarian mission that evolved into military conflict, the specialists caution that reconstruction without Hamas’s removal could trigger renewed hostilities.

Rep. @ByronDonalds: President Trump is talking about working with Israel and other allies and friends in that region in order to clean Gaza up under U.S. leadership… To get Gaza in a position where it's rebuilt and it's not a safe haven for Hamas or any other terrorist front… pic.twitter.com/JjtTbZ5UY1

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 5, 2025

The financial scope of rebuilding Gaza would likely surpass previous reconstruction efforts:

– Iraq’s post-ISIS Mosul reconstruction reached $88 billion
– The Philippines’ Marawi rebuilding cost approached $969 million
– Syria’s Aleppo remains partially uninhabitable after a decade

Given Gaza’s unique challenges, including population density and infrastructure needs, reconstruction costs could exceed $100 billion and span decades, encompassing essential services like water treatment, sewage systems, and power infrastructure.

This analysis emerges alongside revelations from a newly discovered Hamas document showing the group’s efforts to prevent Palestinian emigration, positioning Hamas as a primary obstacle for Gazans seeking better opportunities, even as Trump suggests relocating residents to more stable regions.