Aid pallets become furniture as Gazans rebuild homes with whatever remains

Momen Abu Jarrad, a 29-year-old living in Gaza's Tal Al Hawa neighborhood, struggles to furnish his future home after the war. Traditional bedroom sets, which once cost around $5,000, are now unaffordable for most young people and families. Israeli restrictions have also barred new wood and furniture from entering Gaza, leaving residents to rely on what remains.

An online advertisement for a carpentry workshop, which creates furniture from the wooden aid pallets, caught Mr Abu Jarrad's attention. A pallet-made bedroom set costs approximately $1,300, a third of the price of a traditional set. Pallet wood has become a common alternative to conventional timber across Gaza, with residents and carpenters dismantling pallets to create beds, wardrobes, desks, chairs, and shelves. Many also use the wood for market stalls, classrooms, and simple shelters.

Ahmed Abu Khadra, a carpentry workshop owner in Gaza city, now relies almost entirely on pallet wood to rebuild his industry. Pallet wood, which cost about five shekels ($1.30) before the war, now sells for 70-100 shekels ($23-$33). Despite the increased cost, demand remains high due to the lack of alternatives. Carpentry workshops produce practical, presentable pieces despite limited resources, high electricity costs, and a lack of tools and machinery.

In some cases, pallets can be used to build an entire home. Mohammed Farwana, a 36-year-old displaced resident of Deir Al Balah, is using pallets to construct a one-bedroom house after two and a half years living in tents. The cost of a two-person wooden wardrobe is about $330, and a desk costs around $130, which are still higher than prewar prices but relatively affordable in today's market. While the furniture may not be ideal, Gaza's resourcefulness helps residents cope with widespread destruction and shortages.