Steve Witkoff, the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East, has recently traveled to the Gaza Strip, indicating that the reconstruction of the war-torn area may require a span of 10 to 15 years.
The region has suffered extensive damage due to Israeli airstrikes and ground confrontations involving Israeli forces and Hamas. According to the United Nations (UN), approximately 92 percent of all residential structures in the Palestinian enclave have either been destroyed or significantly damaged as a result of the conflict. Numerous neighborhoods have been entirely reduced to ruins.
Witkoff marks the first high-ranking US official to set foot in Gaza in over a decade. His visit included the Netzarim Corridor, which separates the northern and southern sections of the strip, where he assessed the enforcement of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This Corridor is currently utilized for the security screening of displaced Palestinians returning to their residences in northern Gaza.
In an interview with Axios, Witkoff remarked that the security protocols at both the Netzarim and Philadelphi Corridors are functioning more effectively than anticipated.
Witkoff arrived in Israel on Wednesday following a visit to Saudi Arabia, where he engaged with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and senior Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh. This meeting represented the first formal interaction between the Trump administration and the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the West Bank. In Israel, Witkoff conferred with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials, emphasizing the necessity for the full execution of the ceasefire agreement.
The extent of destruction in Gaza is nearly total.
In remarks regarding the catastrophic situation in Gaza, Witkoff conveyed to Axios that “there is almost nothing left of Gaza.”
“What is undeniable is that the remnants of Gaza are minimal… Individuals are relocating northward to assess the condition of their homes and then often retreating… There is a complete lack of water and electricity. The scale of the damage is astonishing,” Witkoff stated.
According to the United Nations, out of 436,000 housing units impacted by the conflict, which represents 92 percent of all residences in Gaza, 160,000 have been entirely obliterated, while 276,000 have sustained partial damage. As hundreds of thousands of Palestinians return to northern Gaza, many are discovering their homes and communities in a state of devastation.
Witkoff emphasized that the severity of Gaza’s destruction has been significantly underestimated. He characterized the area as “uninhabitable.”
“There has been a belief that a viable plan for Gaza could be established within five years. However, that is unfeasible. The rebuilding process will require 10 to 15 years… There is nothing left intact. Numerous unexploded ordnances remain. It is unsafe to traverse the area. It poses considerable danger. I would not have grasped this without visiting and conducting an inspection,” Witkoff remarked.
