The Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS), in collaboration with the Hikama Journal of Public Administration and Public Policy, has launched a three-day workshop entitled "Towards Palestinian Frameworks for Reconstruction in the Gaza Strip." The workshop commenced in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, 24 January 2026, running in parallel with the fourth Annual Palestine Forum, organised by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and the Institute for Palestine Studies.
This gathering responds to the urgent imperative of planning for Gaza's recovery following the ongoing genocidal war, centring Palestinian agency, expertise, and sovereignty in discussions that have often marginalised Palestinian voices. Its goal is to develop sustainable, equitable, and community-rooted frameworks for post-conflict reconstruction.
The workshop features four thematic sessions and four dedicated roundtables, providing a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue. Key themes include analysing international reconstruction policies and their impact on Palestinian sovereignty; the critical role of civil society actors, NGOs, and women in leading recovery; strategies for rebuilding social and educational infrastructure; and exploring alternatives for food sovereignty and livelihoods.
The opening session set the stage for discussions, featuring remarks by Dr Ghassan Elkahlout (Director of CHS), Dr Abdel-Fattah Mady (Editor-in-Chief of Hikama), and Dr Nour Allah Munawar (Researcher at CHS). They outlined the workshop's objective: to foreground Palestinian narratives and strategic autonomy amid monumental reconstruction challenges.
The first session, chaired by Marwa Farag, centred on "Reconstruction Policies in Gaza and the Centrality of Palestinian Survival," featuring three paper presentations. Talal Abu Rokbeh advocated for integrated recovery in "Reconstruction Policies in Gaza: Toward a Comprehensive Approach Linking Urban Planning with the Rebuilding of the State and the Local Community." Yosef Jabarin examined external geopolitical designs in "Planning a Postwar Order: Israeli and US Think Tanks, Reconstruction, and the Politics of Sovereignty in Gaza." Mandy Turner offered a critical analysis of proposed frameworks in "Colonial Administration, Counterinsurgency Pacification, and Disaster Capitalism in Trump's 'Day After' Plans for Palestine." Collectively, these papers framed reconstruction within contested power dynamics and the imperative of Palestinian endurance.
Discussion addressed the currently proposed plans for Gaza's reconstruction and the prospects for Palestinians to take ownership of—or resist—these processes, given the technical and security-driven approaches embedded within them that reproduce relations of domination and dependency. Scholars examined the limits of these plans and their capacity to meet the needs of Gazan society, given the marginalisation of Palestinian voices from decision-making. They further discussed structural challenges facing Palestinians in formulating sustainable reconstruction pathways.
The first day of the workshop also featured a roundtable titled “Gaza after the Ceasefire: The Humanitarian Realities and The Limits of Recovery", chaired by Mohammed Al-Sousi, Senior Researcher at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Action Studies. Local experts discussed the current humanitarian challenges and the constraints hindering recovery efforts. The discussion concluded with practical recommendations to strengthen community resilience and improve coordination among Palestinian actors, advancing steps toward recovery.
Over the next two days, the workshop will host in-depth sessions and roundtables focused on building a Palestinian-led future for Gaza. Key topics include the vital role of Palestinian actors in reconstruction, governance, and strategies for rebuilding society through education. Discussions will also explore food sovereignty, genuine Palestinian security, and shifting the reconstruction paradigm from resource extraction to sustainable recovery. These conversations aim to forge concrete, equitable Palestinian frameworks for reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.