Gaza Housing Crisis: Over 200,000 Buildings Damaged in Ongoing Conflict

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that approximately 201,290 buildings in the Gaza Strip have been damaged as of June 16, 2026, due to the ongoing war that began on October 7, 2023. This figure represents about 82% of the total buildings in the Gaza Strip. Of the damaged structures, 134,422 were completely destroyed, while 13,848 sustained severe damage. In total, around 328,627 housing units have been affected.

The housing crisis extends beyond Gaza, with the Bureau highlighting ongoing demolitions, forced displacement, land confiscation, and attacks on Palestinian homes and facilities in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In the northern West Bank, 680 buildings in Jenin refugee camp were damaged, representing 53% of the camp's structures. Nur Shams camp saw 434 buildings damaged (55%), and Tulkarm camp had 407 damaged buildings (37%) as of February 2026.

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Israeli authorities carried out 341 demolition operations in the first half of 2026, destroying 740 Palestinian facilities. Additionally, 254 demolition notices were issued, citing a lack of permits, with the majority concentrated in Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. These demolitions were accompanied by 3,488 settler attacks targeting Palestinian communities, property, and livelihoods during the same period.

In the West Bank, over 4,000 Palestinians were displaced by demolitions, evictions, settler violence, and related restrictions between the start of 2026 and September. In Gaza, the ongoing military operations and destruction of homes and infrastructure since October 7, 2023, have led to widespread and repeated displacement, with most of the Strip's 2.1 million residents still displaced. The available living space has shrunk to less than 40% of Gaza's area, exacerbating overcrowding.

Water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza has also been severely impacted, with about 90% of the systems damaged or destroyed by mid-2026. This has led to water insecurity for 82% of households, with roughly 70% receiving less than the WHO minimum of 15 liters of water per person daily. Despite the destruction in Gaza and construction challenges in the West Bank, 1,814 building permits were issued in Palestine in the second quarter of 2026, a 1% decrease from the previous quarter. However, the number of new housing units licensed increased by 20% compared to the same period in 2025.