Rebuilding Gaza could require an investment of at least 7.8 billion dollars, approximately 6 billion euros. This is the finding of a report published by the Palestinian economic council for research and development (Pecdar), which calculated the damage caused by seven weeks of bombardment carried out by the Israeli air force.

Returning to normality will take years. According to Palestinian authorities, rebuilding all the neighbourhoods and infrastructure deemed indispensable for a decent life — such as power stations, school buildings, the airport and hospitals — will take five years. But only if Israel contributes by lifting the blockade on the Strip, the embargo imposed following Hamas's victory in the 2006 elections.

Half a million children cannot return to school because the relevant facilities have been destroyed or converted to house the 106,000 refugees among the 1.8 million inhabitants, according to United Nations data.

"The attack on Gaza is unprecedented, Gaza has been hit catastrophically and needs immediate help," Palestinian economist Mohammad Shtayyeh, who authored the Pecdar report, told Reuters. Rebuilding the 17,000 homes razed to the ground alone will cost 2.5 billion dollars (approximately 1.9 billion euros).

The ceasefire signed on 27 August by Hamas and Israel, after seven weeks of bombardment, brought an end to the third war in six years. The conflict claimed the lives of 2,142 Palestinians, almost all of them civilians, and 70 Israelis, almost all of them military personnel.