Research Article

Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case

Volume: 5 Number: 1 January 29, 2026
EN TR

Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case

Abstract

Abstract This article examines the situation of the Gaza Strip historically with focus on the 2023 war results and purposes, as it’s argued to be as a deliberate strategy of forced displacement, urban destruction, and spatial reconfiguration. Drawing on academic, legal, and human rights sources, it discusses that the mass displacement of over 85% of Gaza’s population is not an unintended byproduct of conflict but part of a settler-colonial and neoliberal agenda to reshape the territory’s demographic and urban fabric. The analysis situates proposed megaprojects such as the so-called “Gaza Riviera” and the Ben Gurion Canal within this framework, demonstrating how post-war reconstruction is leveraged to facilitate exclusive investment zones, militarized trade corridors, and the erasure of indigenous presence. By linking mass military strategy and international coordination, with speculative urban planning, the study shows how displacement and redevelopment operate as interconnected tools in the political and economic transformation of the Gaza Strip. Keywords: Gaza Strip, Urban Regeneration, Mega-projects, Forced Displacement

Keywords

Ethical Statement

I, Amjad Maghrabieh, the author of the Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case, declare that there are no financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could have influence the research presented in this work. The study was undertaken independently and was not funded or commissioned by any government, private corporation, or organization with a stake in the political or economic processes described. The research was motivated solely by academic inquiry, with the aim of contributing to critical debates on urban management, forced displacement, and post-conflict reconstruction. No external actors had any role in shaping the research questions, methodology, data analysis, or conclusions. The interpretations and arguments presented are those of mine alone and do not reflect the views of any affiliated institutions, organizations, or funders.

References

  1. Abraham, Y. (2023). Expel all Palestinians from Gaza, recommends Israeli gov’t ministry. +972 Magazine.
  2. Agha, Z., Esson, J., Griffiths, M., & Joronen, M. (2024). Gaza: A decolonial geography. Royal Geographical Society - Wiley, 1-13.
  3. Ajour, A. (2024). Unveiling the colonial violence of space in the Gaza genocide. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 1-15.
  4. Aldabbour, B., El-Jamal, M., Abuabada, A., Al-Dardasawi, A., Abusedo, E., Abu Daff, H., . . . Dardas4, L. A. (2025). The Psychological Toll of War and Forced Displacement in Gaza: A Study on Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression. Chronic Stress - SAGE, 1-11.
  5. Algarhi, A., & Lagos, K. (2024). Israel: 11 months of war have battered the country’s economy. The Conversation, 1-4.
  6. Ali, Q. (2025). The Global Chessboard of the Gaza War: State-Level Alignments and Geopolitical Gains. Journal of Social Sciences Research & Policy, 58-68.
  7. Anidi Ali, M. (2024). The Israeli war on Gaza. Research into geostrategic goals and dimensions. Tikrit Journal For Political Science, 323-353.
  8. Atran, S., Rodriguez-Gómez, L., Yilmaz, K., & Gómez, Á. (2025). How Gaza Sees the 2023-2025 War and the Future of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. New England Journal of Public Policy.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Migration

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Publication Date

January 29, 2026

Submission Date

September 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 16, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 5 Number: 1

APA
Maghrabieh, A. (2026). Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case. International Review of Migration and Refugee Studies, 5(1), 71-91. https://izlik.org/JA67UJ83AK
AMA
1.Maghrabieh A. Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case. IRMRS. 2026;5(1):71-91. https://izlik.org/JA67UJ83AK
Chicago
Maghrabieh, Amjad. 2026. “Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case”. International Review of Migration and Refugee Studies 5 (1): 71-91. https://izlik.org/JA67UJ83AK.
EndNote
Maghrabieh A (January 1, 2026) Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case. International Review of Migration and Refugee Studies 5 1 71–91.
IEEE
[1]A. Maghrabieh, “Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case”, IRMRS, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 71–91, Jan. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA67UJ83AK
ISNAD
Maghrabieh, Amjad. “Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case”. International Review of Migration and Refugee Studies 5/1 (January 1, 2026): 71-91. https://izlik.org/JA67UJ83AK.
JAMA
1.Maghrabieh A. Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case. IRMRS. 2026;5:71–91.
MLA
Maghrabieh, Amjad. “Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case”. International Review of Migration and Refugee Studies, vol. 5, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 71-91, https://izlik.org/JA67UJ83AK.
Vancouver
1.Amjad Maghrabieh. Forced Displacement for Urban Regeneration - Gaza Strip Case. IRMRS [Internet]. 2026 Jan. 1;5(1):71-9. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA67UJ83AK