A N A LY S I S PEACE AND SECURITY DONOR ENGAGEMENT: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Palestinian Perspectives on the Reconstruction of Gaza September 2021 Nur Arafah November 2024 Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, has caused severe human, economic, and social devastation. Recon­struction efforts need to ad­dress past failures and current unprecedent challenges. Previous reconstruction ef­forts have been top-down and ignored Israel’s blockade and occupation. Gazan knowl­edge and ownership have been excluded, the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism allowed for control by Israel and normalisation of the blockade. Major funding gaps also hindered reconstruction. Reconstruction amid the ongoing war has to speak to unprecedented challenges. A strategy should encompass a multi-dimensional approach addressing political, economic, and societal needs, local own­ership and inclusion, aligning micro and macro-level plan­ning, and promoting food security and sustainable agriculture.