Representing An-Najah were Prof. Jalal Dabbeek (Director of the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center), Dr. Ali Abdelhamid (Coordinator of the Urban and Regional Planning Unit), and Dr. Jamal Dabbeek (Faculty of Engineering, Earth Sciences and Seismology Unit).

Dr. Thaisa Comelli (UCL) opened the workshop, highlighting the goal of incorporating disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation into Gaza’s reconstruction. Prof. Dabbeek emphasized aligning recovery plans with the SDGs, Sendai Framework, and climate goals. He also shared risk assessment studies conducted by An-Najah’s center.

Topics included the “Connected Gaza Initiative” by Roland Chanin-Morris, post-2014 war reconstruction challenges, and the need for integrating governance, justice, and resilience. Dr. Abdelhamid presented a paper on past spatial plans and the 2025 Arab League comprehensive plan for Gaza, stressing community participation and institutional coordination.

Dr. Dabbeek led sessions on prioritizing relief and reconstruction timelines with climate adaptation in mind. The “Cities of Tomorrow” project team, led by Dr. Taysa and Dr. Dabbeek, discussed long-term urban resilience planning.

The workshop concluded with a risk matrix and reconstruction priorities. An-Najah’s team also met with the Royal Scientific Society, where Dr. Jamal Dabbeek presented past projects and potential collaboration with GEM Foundation on risk modeling and disaster planning.

This participation reflects An-Najah commitment to national priorities and academic collaboration, contributing to sustainable and resilient reconstruction efforts in Gaza.