Almost two years after the beginning of the Israeli military offensive, Gaza now represents one of the most severe devastations in contemporary history. Tens of thousands of victims, entire neighbourhoods razed to the ground, and hospitals, schools, water networks and sewage systems destroyed or irreparably damaged.

The figures speak for themselves: more than 66 million tonnes of rubble cover the Strip, while the estimated cost of reconstruction exceeds 71 billion US dollars. However, reducing this tragedy to mere figures would mean overlooking its deeper implications. The war has, in fact, shattered the social fabric, community relations, economic opportunities and symbolic places that are central to Palestinian collective identity.

For this reason, the reconstruction of Gaza cannot be conceived as a mere technical intervention in the fields of construction or urban planning. Instead, it must be based on an essential principle: recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to decide autonomously on their present and future, at every stage of the process.

International debate often focuses on funding, plans and intervention models. But the real question is another: who will actually have the power to decide Gaza’s future? And what conditions are necessary for its inhabitants to be able to return to living with dignity, security and rights?

These are the issues at the heart of the “The Keys to Home” panel, taking place on Saturday 3 October at 2.00 pm at the Ridotto of the Teatro Comunale in Ferrara, as part of the Internazionale Festival.

The panel will bring together legal scholar Alessandra Annoni, Oxfam Italia humanitarian crises spokesperson Paolo Pezzati and Palestinian architect Yara Sharif, with Internazionale journalist Francesca Gnetti as moderator.

Drawing on the perspectives of international law, architecture and humanitarian action, the panel will address a crucial question: under what conditions can the reconstruction of Gaza be just, sustainable and lasting? The aim is to provide a space for discussion on how to move from devastation to renewal, ensuring that Palestinians themselves hold the keys to their future.

Paolo Pezzati will present the findings contained in Oxfam’s new report on the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza. The central message is clear: any credible process must be Palestinian-led and grounded in respect for human rights, self-determination and international responsibility.

This means restoring to affected communities effective control over decisions concerning their own future: from the planning of interventions and management of resources to mechanisms for transparency and accountability.

Oxfam will also reiterate that the reconstruction of Gaza cannot be separated from the broader context of the Palestinian question. The recovery of the Strip must contribute to a process of political, institutional and territorial unity that also encompasses the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with full recognition of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

For more information, it is possible to visit the page on the Oxfam website.