The Uncertain Future of Gaza: Post-War Consequences and Challenges

The future of Gaza remains uncertain as experts discuss various options, including the Palestinian Authority reassuming control, Arab Gulf countries funding reconstruction efforts with international oversight, or Palestinians being displaced to Egypt or other countries. The estimated 1.9 million Palestinians who fled to southern parts of Gaza may face long-term displacement, with humanitarian relief groups providing basic necessities in a decimated landscape that will require decades of rebuilding. Israel's goals in Gaza are vaguely defined, but they suggest an ongoing security presence. Far-right Israeli politicians have called for mass displacement of Palestinians, while some suggest the Palestinian Authority could govern Gaza, although Palestinians view them as corrupt and ineffective. The future of Palestinians extends beyond Gaza, with escalating violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Rebuilding Gaza will be a monumental task, with challenges in obtaining materials and power asymmetries determining whether Gazans can return to northern areas. Wealthy Arab Gulf nations may be reluctant to fund reconstruction, leaving humanitarian organizations and U.N. agencies to provide basic necessities.