{
  "id": 5718353,
  "title": "Aid pallets become furniture as Gazans rebuild homes with whatever remains",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/aid-pallets-become-furniture-as-gazans-rebuild-homes-with-whatever",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/09/05/aid-pallets-become-furniture-as-gazans-rebuild-homes-with-whatever-remains/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nAn 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.\n\nAhmed 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.\n\nIn 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.",
  "summary": "Momen Abu Jarrad is preparing for his wedding but furnishing his future home feels almost impossible. The 29 year old lives in the Tal Al Hawa neighbourhood west of Gaza city and has scoured the few pieces of furniture for sale that have survived the war. Prices, however, have become the biggest obstacle. “Traditional bedroom sets that survived the conflict are now over $5,000,” he told The…",
  "key_points": [
    "Pallet wood becomes alternative to conventional timber in Gaza.",
    "Carpentry workshops create affordable furniture from pallets.",
    "Mohammed Farwana builds one-bedroom house using pallets."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Gazans are adapting to post-war reconstruction by repurposing aid pallets into affordable furniture and even homes, filling a gap left by Israeli restrictions on new materials and soaring traditional costs.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Aid pallets become furniture as Gazans rebuild homes with whatever remains",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/aid-pallets-become-furniture-as-gazans-rebuild-homes-with-whatever-5723771",
        "published": "2026-09-05T05:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}