US envoy Steve Witkoff visits Gaza, estimates reconstruction will take 10-15 years

Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, visited Gaza and stated that reconstruction will take 10-15 years, much longer than the previously estimated five years. He noted that 92% of housing in Gaza has been destroyed or damaged. Witkoff is the first senior US official to visit Gaza in over a decade. He inspected the Netzarim Corridor, which is being used for security screening of displaced Palestinians returning home. He reported that security arrangements are functioning better than expected. During his visit, Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian officials. He emphasized the extent of the destruction in Gaza, describing it as "uninhabitable" and highlighting the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance.