A feasibility study is underway to examine whether Gaza’s war debris could be recycled to reclaim coastal land and build artificial islands, as part of reconstruction, according to the United Nations.
More than two years of the Israeli war on Gaza have left the enclave covered with nearly 57 million tonnes of shattered concrete and other rubble, it was pointed out. With three-quarters of Gaza’s built environment now destroyed, several reconstruction scenarios are under consideration.
One of the most technically and politically sensitive options is to recycle debris to extend the enclave’s Mediterranean coastline and create artificial islands offshore. This approach has the advantage of absorbing part of the enormous volume of war debris while reducing the need for dredging and the extraction of new materials for building use.