Rebuilding Gaza: don’t sideline Palestinian scientists, say experts
michele catanzaro
While the ceasefire in Gaza was being discussed, @EhsanMasood asked me to report for @Nature on the opportunities it would open for research. As I spoke with international experts in post-war reconstruction and scholars on the ground, one message kept resurfacing. That message was clear: Gaza’s recovery will not succeed unless it is led by experts from the territory itself. Many are concerned, as Palestinian organizations have not been named as leaders in Trump’s reconstruction plan. Past failures—such as Iraq’s post-war rebuilding—serve as stark warnings. Over the past two years, Israel’s troups have inflicted on research and higher education in Gaza a level of devastation on par with all the other sectors. Some figures: 2,200 medical and education personnel have been killed; 79% of higher education campuses have been damaged or destroyed; and 88,000 students have been forced to suspend their studies. The war has caused an estimated $222 million in damage to higher education infrastructure. Rebuilding will require nearly five times that amount—around $1 billion—due to the costs of clearing debris and removing unexploded ordnance. The challenge of recovery is immense. Yet numerous studies have outlined urgent priorities: expanding online education, addressing mental health needs, fostering international collaborations, and subsidizing student fees. In the long term, Palestinian leadership is essential. “These academics possess unparalleled local knowledge and a deep understanding of their land,” one source told me. To learn more about what Trump’s plan implies for higher education; what scholars on the ground have to say; and the plans put forward by researchers in post-war reconstruction, read here: