In pictures: Gaza in ruins as residents return home

Palestinians walk past the rubble of houses and buildings destroyed during the war, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 20. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

By Reuters
Monday, January 20, 2025

After 15 months of war, the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement took place on Sunday, but Gazans who cheered in celebration over the truce soon found their happiness overshadowed by a harsh reality when they returned to find their homes lying in ruins.

A drone view shows houses and buildings lying in ruins, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, January 19. REUTERS/Mahmoud Al-Basos

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Billions of dollars will be needed to rebuild Gaza after the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, according to assessments from the United Nations.

Displaced Palestinians make their way past the rubble as they attempt to return to their homes following a delay in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas over the hostage list, in the northern Gaza Strip, January 19. REUTERS/Khalil Ramzi

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday, suspending a 15-month-old war that has devastated the Gaza Strip and inflamed the Middle East.

A Palestinian woman walks past the rubble of houses and buildings destroyed during the war, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 20. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

A U.N. damage assessment released this month showed that clearing over 50 million tonnes of rubble left in the aftermath of Israel's bombardment could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion.

A drone view shows Palestinians walking past the rubble of houses and buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes during the war, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, January 20. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The debris is believed to be contaminated with asbestos, with some refugee camps struck during the war known to have been built with the material. The rubble also likely holds human remains. The Palestinian Ministry of Health estimates that 10,000 bodies are missing under the debris.

A United Nations Development Programme official said on Sunday that development in Gaza has been set back by 69 years as a result of the conflict.

Palestinians ride a vehicle past the rubble of houses and buildings destroyed during the war, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 20. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

Rebuilding Gaza's shattered homes will take at least until 2040, but could drag on for many decades, according to a U.N. report released last year.

Buildings destroyed during the war lie in ruin, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 20. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

Two-thirds of Gaza's pre-war structures - over 170,000 buildings - have been damaged or flattened, according to U.N. satellite data (UNOSAT) in December. That amounts to around 69% of the total structures in the Gaza Strip.