Qatar-Egypt agreements on fuel supply – construction materials in Gaza

Qatar and Egypt have signed agreements on the supply of fuel and basic construction materials in the Gaza Strip, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.

The announcement was made in Oslo by Sultan bin Saad al-Muraiki, Qatar’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, during a ministerial meeting of the International Committee of the Donors for the Palestinians (AHLC).

The Qatari Foreign Minister assured that these joint efforts will contribute to the improvement of living conditions (in Gaza), as stated in a relevant announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Some 2,200 homes in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed and another 37,000 damaged by the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas last May, according to the Hamas government in Gaza.

Some houses in Israel were destroyed by rockets fired by Hamas and other armed groups in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian officials say 250 people, including 66 children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Israeli officials say 13 people, including two children, have been killed in rocket fire in Israel.

Following an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire on May 21, access to reconstruction funding and building materials became a vital Hamas demand.

Israel is restricting the import of construction materials into Gaza, arguing that Hamas is using them to produce weapons and carry out attacks.

However, in accordance with an agreement between the UN and Qatar, Israel has allowed the provision of financial assistance from the said Gulf country to Gaza.

Officials in Gaza estimate they will receive $ 479 million to rebuild homes and infrastructure destroyed during the May escalation of hostilities.

Qatar and Egypt have separately pledged $ 500 million to rebuild Gaza.

Source: AMPE