Gaza residents resort to mud bricks and scrap to rebuild shattered homes

Following months of intense bombardment, Palestinians in Gaza are using mud bricks, reclaimed wood, and sheets of fabric and plastic to rebuild homes and shops. Families pile these handmade bricks directly on shattered concrete, forming fragile walls that offer minimal shelter from heat, rain or cold, yet are seen as a better option than overcrowded tents. Gaza officials report that more than 90 percent of the territory has been leveled since October 2023, creating a severe housing crisis.

Palestinian health authorities and Gaza’s Government Media Office say Israel’s attacks have killed at least 73,658 Palestinians, including over 21,500 children, and dropped roughly 223,000 tonnes of explosives, producing about 68 million tonnes of rubble. The United Nations notes that only about 310,000 tonnes of debris—less than 0.5 percent—have been cleared, a rate that would take over a century to complete.