EU offers nearly half a billion euros to rebuild Gaza

The EU is to give 436 million euros for the reconstruction of Gaza. The aid package was announced as the bloc’s foreign policy chief toured the Palestinian territory ahead of a donors’ conference in Egypt. Large areas were bombed into the ground and thousands lost their homes during Israel’s recent offensive against Hamas.

Solana said: “When you look at what happened, the damage and the destruction, it will take time to put it back in place. That is why it is so important to start very very soon, and I’m glad that the Egyptian authorities convened this on Monday, not in a month, not in two months, but Monday. The sooner we start with that, all the better for the people.”

The Palestinian Authority is expected to ask foreign governments for more than two billion euros to rebuild homes, industry and public buildings.

Solana expressed support for Palestinan factions Hamas and Fatah meeting in Egypt to try to settle their bloody feud. The aim is to ultimately create a national unity government.

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tags: Gaza