Following the successful ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the United States, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar are receiving continued reactions and commendations for their diplomatic efforts.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres commended the four countries, according to spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on October 29.

Guterres stressed that their efforts were crucial in both preventing further escalation and facilitating the delivery of vital aid to civilians in the Strip.

Experts view the ceasefire as the start of a broader process to establish peace across the Middle East. They believe it will lay the foundation to prevent any return to war and ensure security for all parties without exception.

Supporting reconstruction

"The situation in the Middle East is moving towards calm and stability after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza," political analyst Abdul Nabi Bakkar said.

"The joint diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the US aim to secure final solutions and end military operations, a collaboration expected to foster consensus and culminate in agreements that safeguard all parties' rights through dialogue, rather than force," he said.

Bakkar highlighted the extreme suffering in the Gaza Strip, noting that conditions have deteriorated to their worst point in every respect.

He stressed that there is no economy, no trade, and no business activity taking place, alongside unemployment reaching unprecedented levels.

He stated that the worst aspect is "the complete destruction of large areas and the partial damage to others, coupled with the cessation of essential infrastructure services, which has severely compromised the health and social situation."

"The immediate priority must be establishing peace and initiating reconstruction and economic recovery," Bakkar said.

Waste and rubble management

While the approval of peace plans is fundamental for supporting the Strip, the subsequent process of reconstruction will not be easy.

Palestinian journalist and activist Ibtisam al-Saadi anticipates that significant obstacles will appear sequentially during the implementation phase.

"The first hurdles are the removal of rubble from destroyed buildings, clearing mountains of waste, and safely disposing of mines, shells, and unexploded ordnance," she added.

Overcoming these challenges, she said, requires the peace sponsors to provide robust, direct assistance, with the United States playing the leading role.

Since the start of the war in 2023, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and its partners have successfully removed over 425,000 tons of solid waste in Gaza.

"The waste is currently being stored in temporary sites, necessitating the creation of a recycling plant to process and safely dispose of it. This facility is essential for maintaining public health," al-Saadi said.

She noted that the removal and subsequent recycling and reuse of rubble, particularly cement, iron, and other building materials, has commenced as part of the reconstruction process.