Over 1.5 million Palestinians left homeless as Gaza lies in ruins

At least 1.5 million Palestinians have lost their homes as a result of Israel's vicious military campaign in the Gaza Strip, amounting to roughly 80 percent of the enclave’s houses.

Israel’s near-complete destruction of the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure means that the majority of Gazans will have nowhere to return to, as scores of Palestinians make their way back to their residences throughout the enclave, after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect on Friday.

Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organisations Network (PNGO) in Gaza, told The New Arab's Arabic edition that the destruction in Gaza roughly amounted to 60 million tonnes of rubble.

This is the equivalent of 25 Eiffel Towers in volume, according to the United Nations Environment Program.

Al-Shawa said the rebuilding of homes and clearing of rubble would require a long time, stressing that relief operations and a humanitarian response to the Palestinian people's needs were more of a priority right now.

Such operations will include the recovery of bodies of those still buried under debris, finding the missing, and providing shelter for those without a home.

Around 500,000 Palestinians have now returned to what is left of their homes, according to the enclave’s civil defence, despite difficult conditions.

New drone footage published by Reuters and The Associated Press showed parts of Gaza City in ruins, with few buildings standing tall. Piles of debris can be seen atop vehicles and roads covered in concrete dust.

The World Bank estimates that $50 billion is needed to rebuild the devastated enclave.

Al-Shawa said efforts are currently focused on rehabilitating vital sectors such as health, education and water, in addition to providing food, medicine and basic shelter supplies such as blankets, mattresses and clothing.

He stressed that the influx of displaced Palestinians will increase if shelter supplies were brought and if the second phase of Israeli forces' withdrawal is implemented. He also urged Arab and international parties to provide more financial support to speed up the process, and stressed that humanitarian relief represents a "fundamental pillar in confronting the famine that has gripped the Gaza Strip".

He said efforts to hold a donor conference in Egypt are underway, based on a plan prepared by Cairo in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and several Arab parties.

Hamas and Israel agreed to the first phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan earlier this week, which will see the release of Palestinian detainees and the remaining Israeli captives, as well as the entry of humanitarian aid trucks on a daily basis.

Israeli troops will also begin pulling back in accordance with the agreement.