Palestinians build a room with mud bricks as an alternative amid a shortage of construction supplies in the Gaza Strip, in Nuseirat, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Photos show Palestinians using handmade mud bricks, wood and plastic to rebuild amid Gaza’s rubble
GAZA CITY (AP) — With building supplies scarce, Palestinians make mud bricks and use wood, fabric and plastic to rebuild homes and shops destroyed in the Israel-Hamas war, sometimes building directly atop the rubble.
Palestinian youth Julia Joudeh, 11, climbs to her new wooden house, which was built on top of the rubble of her family’s home destroyed during the war between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Palestinians make clay bricks for building amid a shortage of construction materials in the Gaza Strip, in the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Khalil Abu Ramadan, 26, makes clay bricks for building amid a shortage of construction materials in the Gaza Strip, in the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Palestinians fill plastic containers with water to make clay bricks for building amid a shortage of construction supplies in the Gaza Strip, in the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Palestinian carpenter Alaa Joudah, 39, cuts wood to use for building a new wooden house next to his home, which was destroyed during the war between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Khalil Abu Deeb, 31, makes clay bricks for building a house amid a shortage of construction materials in the Gaza Strip, in the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Palestinian workers repair a war-damaged shop using fabric as a substitute for construction supplies unavailable in Gaza, in Gaza City, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Young Palestinians build a room with mud bricks as an alternative amid a shortage of construction supplies in the Gaza Strip, in Nuseirat, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Palestinians make clay bricks for building amid a shortage of construction materials in the Gaza Strip, in the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)Palestinians carry water to make clay bricks for building a house amid a shortage of construction materials in the Gaza Strip, in the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.
