Gaza high-rise destroyed in IDF strike
Photo: Reuters
CCTV to document construction material in Gaza
Israel, Palestinians, and UN say mechanism to transfer goods to Gaza will prevent dual-use items from falling into Hamas' hands.
Israel, the Palestinians, the UN, and donor nations agreed on a mechanism to allow for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip at an international donors' conference in New York on Monday night.
According to the agreement, all construction materials that enter Gaza will be recorded and supervised to assure they do not fall into Hamas' hands.
The conference occurs annually in New York at the start of the United Nation's General Assmebly. This year's conference was held in the wake of Operation Protective Edge, which left the Strip significantly debilitated.
Gaza high-rise hit by IDF strike (Photo: AFP)
The conference was chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and attended by US Secretary of State John Kerry, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, EU foreign minister Catherine Ashton, Deputy Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, and Quartet representative Tony Blair. Jordan's foreign minister and representatives from Saudi Arabia and Egypt also participated in the conference.
Deputy Minister Hanegbi stressed to those in attendance that the mechanism agreed with the UN was intended to assure that dual-use materials that arrive in Gaza as part of the reconstruction effort will not be used in terror activities.
Gaza school damaged by IDF strikes (Photo: AFP)
Thus, the mechanism mandates that all construction materials will be stored in Gaza warehouses equipped with CCTV cameras.
Hanegbi also announced a series of projects to allow for a renewed burst of economic activity in the West Bank. The international donors welcomed Israel's willingness to help the Palestinian Authority as it faces a dual crisis – enormous debts on one hand, and political weakness from the surge in Hamas' popularity, on the other.
Gazans return to destroyed homes (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt is expected to schedule another conference to focus solely on the reconstruction of Gaza, with cooperation from Norway and Abbas.
The international donors' conference has convened every year since 1993 at the behest of the Norwegian foreign minister, and its primary role is to assist in the construction of Palestinian infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza and to strengthen the economic foundations of the PA.
Meanwhile, the talks between Israel and the Palestinians continued in Cairo. The Palestinian delegation presented Tuesday its demands for the subsequent meetings. The delegation repeated its demand for the establishment of an airport and seaport in Gaza and the termination of IDF anti-Hamas operations in the West Bank.
The Palestinians also demanded the release of all the Shalit-exchange prisoners who were rearrested during IDF Operation Brother's Keeper.
Elior Levy contributed to this report.
