The recent “From Destruction to Sustainable Regional Recovery” conference, hosted by the Arava Institute, Duke University, and Damour for Community Development, brought together diverse voices in regional environmental cooperation. Diplomats, academics, humanitarian aid workers, and local community leaders met to discuss strategies for rebuilding Gaza and the West Bank after the devastating war.
Speakers spoke about a wide range of topics, from public attitudes and trust in state institutions, to current on-the-ground electricity solutions in Gaza, and through to bold future proposals such as using rubble from the war to construct offshore islands where aid ships could dock to ease the pressure on Gaza’s crowded mainland.
Throughout the conference, participants returned to the theme of hope. “Hope drives you; it gives you a reason to act. And when you have passion fueled by hope, then you will act,” a former ambassador noted. Arava Institute speakers echoed this message, reminding the audience that organizations working in the “middle space” between top-down policy and bottom-up activism are critical to lasting change. Rebuilding requires consulting these kinds of institutions that can bridge communities and governments alike on all sides.
The challenges are immense. Gaza’s infrastructure has been decimated, and even before October 7, UNICEF reported that 96 percent of the territory’s water was undrinkable. Today, potable water only reaches residents through international aid. Yet, as Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed, Executive Director of the Arava Institute explained, “I believe in peace because I see the impact of our work on the ground.”
Reconstruction is not just about physical buildings; it is about restoring trust, empowering communities, and creating a place where hope can take root. As one participant put it, “We do not do these things just because we are humanitarian; we do it because we want an actual way forward.” While the challenges are immense, the ideas shared at the conference offer a roadmap for rebuilding not just infrastructure, but trust, long-term environmental sustainability, and community resilience.