Official from Palestine: Israel blocks reconstruction of Gaza

Gaza, December 13, 2013 : .

A high-ranking Palestinian official accused Israel of obstructing reconstruction efforts in Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Strip is currently ruled over by HamasNaji Sarhan (undersecretary, ministry of housing, public works) told a Gaza news conference that reconstruction is going "very slowly" and Israel is "fully accountable", according to Xinhua news agency.The Palestinian side previously accused Israel of refusing to rebuild what was destroyed during an Israeli offensive in May.The 11-day-long large-scale air offensive by Israel and Hamas on Gaza Strip took place May 10.More than 250 Palestinians died and thirteen Israelis were wounded during the conflict.After Egypt brokered an agreement on May 21 between Hamas-led militants in Israel and Egypt, the conflict was ended.

According to the official figures, around 1,800 housing units in the Gaza Strip were destroyed, and 16,800 units had been damaged during the 11-day attack."Israels attacks on the Gaza Strip, home of more than 2 million Palestinians, exacerbated the humanitarian, economic and social crises," Sarhan said, adding that the latest wave of tension caused a direct loss of $420 million.

"Qatar and Egypt have pledged a financial grant of $500 million each for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip," Sarhan said, adding that Germany donated $9 million and other states donated $20 million.After the conflict, Egypt sent engineers, construction equipment, and Egyptian workers to help remove the rubble of the destroyed buildings.

But Israel tried to ban the shipment of raw materials to Gaza "to pressure Hamas to lessen its demands for reaching a permanent truce agreement.But under international pressure, Israel allowed the shipment of all materials for the first time in years", Sarhan told Xinhua in November.

The progress of Gazas reconstruction, which may last for several months, depends on the political situation and field conditions, he added.ksk/ #Official #Palestine #Israel #Gaza #Germany.