Germany Pushes for Palestinian Role in Gaza Reconstruction Plan

Speaking in Berlin, German’s Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Josef Hinterseher said Palestinians “must continue to be closely involved in all plans and their rights must be upheld,” referring to proposals presented in Davos by a representative linked to the U.S.-backed Board of Peace. Germany’s intervention on Gaza reconstruction signals growing unease in Europe over how post-war planning is being framed, particularly initiatives emerging from Washington.

Berlin framed inclusion as a prerequisite, not a preference, drawing a line between reconstruction and sovereignty. A spokeswoman for the Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry of Germany made that boundary explicit, stating there are clear red lines when it comes to rebuilding in Gaza.

No annexation and the focus must be on the population.

Lisa Royaee, Economic Cooperation & Development Ministry

The Board of Peace was launched as phase two of the Gaza ceasefire agreement began, following nearly two years of war that killed more than 71,000 people. While initially conceived to oversee ceasefire implementation and reconstruction, its charter now extends to peace-building in conflict-affected regions more broadly.

Germany also welcomed the announcement of an upcoming reconstruction conference but underscored that process alone cannot substitute for political legitimacy.

Ceasefire Without IDF Withdrawal

The German position aligns with regional voices questioning whether reconstruction can proceed absent structural changes on the ground. In December, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated that a “full ceasefire cannot be considered unless Israel withdraws from Gaza,” framing rebuilding efforts as inseparable from military disengagement. That linkage has sharpened scrutiny of conditions since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 11.

Despite the halt in large scale fighting, humanitarian indicators remain acute. UNICEF warned on Nov. 21 that nearly two children are still being killed every day in Gaza by the IDF, with many more injured, underscoring that the ceasefire has not translated into civilian safety.

These figures complicate claims that the environment is stable enough for reconstruction planning divorced from protection and accountability.

Destruction After the Ceasefire

Satellite imagery reviewed by BBC Verify on Nov. 12 adds another layer of tension. The analysis found that more than 1,500 buildings have been demolished in Gaza since the ceasefire began, largely through controlled demolitions in areas still under Israeli control. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, including structures that appeared undamaged prior to demolition.

The continued pace of destruction challenges assumptions embedded in some redevelopment visions that physical recovery can proceed alongside ongoing military control.

The humanitarian impact has also intensified as winter conditions set in. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called attention to the issue last November, explaining continued hardships in the residential areas “that Israel has reduced to rubble,” noting that rainfall and cold temperatures had worsened living conditions. He described scenes of tents submerged under rain water and children suffering hypothermia, framing the crisis as one of exposure as much as loss of infrastructure.

Meanwhile, similar messages echoed by relief organizations implicitly question whether a ceasefire that coincides with continued demolitions, civilian deaths, and displacement can provide a credible foundation for rebuilding. And the debate now unfolding is less about architecture or financing than about authority and consent.

As the German Foreign Ministry framed it, rebuilding Gaza without Palestinians at the center would not only undermine legitimacy but risk entrenching the very instability the reconstruction effort is meant to address.