Published on: 2026-05-14
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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A study is currently being conducted in Gaza with the aim of determining whether debris from buildings destroyed during the conflict can be used for strengthening the coastal territory and constructing artificial islands.
Currently, the sector’s territory is covered with almost 57 million tons of concrete and other construction debris. Considering that three quarters of the buildings in Gaza have been destroyed, several restoration scenarios are being considered. One of the most popular options is the recycling of debris to expand the enclave’s Mediterranean coastline and create artificial islands off the shore.
Such an approach allows for the partial utilization of a huge volume of waste and reduces the demand for the supply of new building materials. However, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warns that the existing waste in Gaza is insufficient for such a large-scale engineering project.
UNEP co-chairs a working group that operates according to a plan providing for the restoration of 14 square kilometers of territory. The project will require almost 200 million cubic meters of inert materials. According to estimates, no more than 10 million cubic meters can be obtained from the processed debris.
Key problem – the composition of fragments
In the scenarios currently being considered, large fragments can be used as a foundation on the seafloor, while processed rubble is intended for the construction of coastal protection. Finer materials can be used to raise the ground level and alter the shoreline, which will require the creation of new drainage systems.
The key problem is the nature of the debris itself. Besides concrete, broken tiles, and metals — including reinforcement suitable for reuse — there are also elements that are unsuitable for recycling: from asbestos-containing materials to wood.
According to UNEP, any use of debris must comply with the Palestinian Environmental Protection Law of 1999, which requires conducting an environmental impact assessment of projects capable of affecting the ecosystem. The agency also recommends taking into account international and regional regulations.
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