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Billions pledged to rebuild Gaza | Billions pledged to rebuild Gaza |
(30 minutes later) | |
International donors have pledged almost $4.5bn (£3.2bn) in aid to the Palestinians, chiefly to rebuild Gaza after Israel's recent offensive. | International donors have pledged almost $4.5bn (£3.2bn) in aid to the Palestinians, chiefly to rebuild Gaza after Israel's recent offensive. |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington would donate $900m, and vigorously seek to advance peace. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington would donate $900m, and vigorously seek to advance peace. |
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told a summit in Egypt cash was "insufficient" without a political solution. | Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told a summit in Egypt cash was "insufficient" without a political solution. |
Israel, which has been fighting Gaza militants, refuses to allow building materials into Gaza for reconstruction. | Israel, which has been fighting Gaza militants, refuses to allow building materials into Gaza for reconstruction. |
As well as the $900m promised by the US, Saudi Arabia pledged $1bn (£703m) for Gaza. | As well as the $900m promised by the US, Saudi Arabia pledged $1bn (£703m) for Gaza. |
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit says the total of $4.48m from about 70 countries was "beyond of our expectations". | Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit says the total of $4.48m from about 70 countries was "beyond of our expectations". |
Hillary Clinton announces US pledge | Hillary Clinton announces US pledge |
The Palestinian Authority had requested only $2.8bn (£2bn). | The Palestinian Authority had requested only $2.8bn (£2bn). |
Mrs Clinton told the conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh: "Our response to today's crisis in Gaza cannot be separated from our broader efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace." | Mrs Clinton told the conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh: "Our response to today's crisis in Gaza cannot be separated from our broader efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace." |
During her first visit to the Middle East as top US diplomat, she said the aim of the aid was to "foster conditions in which a Palestinian state can be fully realised". | During her first visit to the Middle East as top US diplomat, she said the aim of the aid was to "foster conditions in which a Palestinian state can be fully realised". |
Some 1,300 Palestinians, of whom 412 were children, were killed and thousands of homes and businesses destroyed in December and January as Israel tried to bring an end to cross-border rocket attacks by Palestinian militants. | Some 1,300 Palestinians, of whom 412 were children, were killed and thousands of homes and businesses destroyed in December and January as Israel tried to bring an end to cross-border rocket attacks by Palestinian militants. |
'Visible signs' | 'Visible signs' |
Hamas, which controls Gaza but is regarded by both the US and the EU as a terrorist organisation, was not invited to attend the one-day conference. | Hamas, which controls Gaza but is regarded by both the US and the EU as a terrorist organisation, was not invited to attend the one-day conference. |
Development efforts will remain insufficient, powerless and threatened in the absence of a political settlement Mahmoud Abbas href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7918089.stm">Clinton's delicate Mid-East tour class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7918716.stm">What is getting into Gaza?Send us your comments | |
The movement welcomed efforts to rebuild Gaza but said it should have been asked to take part. | The movement welcomed efforts to rebuild Gaza but said it should have been asked to take part. |
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum also told the BBC that donors had "politicised" aid by handing it to Mr Abbas's Palestinian Authority. | Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum also told the BBC that donors had "politicised" aid by handing it to Mr Abbas's Palestinian Authority. |
Mr Abbas said that while all the support was appreciated, "we insist on the pressing need to achieve substantial progress towards a just settlement [of the conflict with Israel]". | Mr Abbas said that while all the support was appreciated, "we insist on the pressing need to achieve substantial progress towards a just settlement [of the conflict with Israel]". |
"The reconstruction and development efforts will remain insufficient, powerless and threatened in the absence of a political settlement," he said at the conference. | "The reconstruction and development efforts will remain insufficient, powerless and threatened in the absence of a political settlement," he said at the conference. |
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that "visible signs of progress" in the West Bank and Gaza were vital. | British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that "visible signs of progress" in the West Bank and Gaza were vital. |
He added that Palestinians needed "a single government across the occupied territories" - a direct appeal for rival Palestinian factions to put aside their differences. | He added that Palestinians needed "a single government across the occupied territories" - a direct appeal for rival Palestinian factions to put aside their differences. |
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, for his part, urged Hamas "to engage resolutely in searching for a political solution and engage in a dialogue with Israel". | French President Nicolas Sarkozy, for his part, urged Hamas "to engage resolutely in searching for a political solution and engage in a dialogue with Israel". |
Aid flows | Aid flows |
Raising money for Gaza is the easy part, the BBC's Christian Fraser in Egypt says. | Raising money for Gaza is the easy part, the BBC's Christian Fraser in Egypt says. |
GAZA DESTRUCTION 14,000 homes219 factories240 schools UNDP estimates In pictures: Samouni Street | GAZA DESTRUCTION 14,000 homes219 factories240 schools UNDP estimates In pictures: Samouni Street |
The real business of the conference is the practicalities of how to get it to the people who need it most, he adds. | The real business of the conference is the practicalities of how to get it to the people who need it most, he adds. |
All but essential supplies are still subject to Israeli blockades at the crossing points into Gaza. | All but essential supplies are still subject to Israeli blockades at the crossing points into Gaza. |
Building and raw materials deemed by Israel to be useful to militants as well as civilians have been banned. | Building and raw materials deemed by Israel to be useful to militants as well as civilians have been banned. |
Aid workers say items turned away at the border have included macaroni, lentils, paper and school books. | Aid workers say items turned away at the border have included macaroni, lentils, paper and school books. |
Mr Ban described the situation at the crossings as "intolerable". | Mr Ban described the situation at the crossings as "intolerable". |
"Aid workers do not have access. Essential commodities cannot get in. Our first and indispensable goal, therefore, is open crossings," he told delegates. | "Aid workers do not have access. Essential commodities cannot get in. Our first and indispensable goal, therefore, is open crossings," he told delegates. |
But he said it was also "essential" to ensure that illegal weapons were prevented from being allowed to enter Gaza. | But he said it was also "essential" to ensure that illegal weapons were prevented from being allowed to enter Gaza. |
Donor countries as well as Israel, which did not attend the conference, have stressed that they do not want aid to end up in the hands of Hamas. | Donor countries as well as Israel, which did not attend the conference, have stressed that they do not want aid to end up in the hands of Hamas. |
"Like the international community, Israel does not want to see support to Hamas," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said. "We want to see support for the people of Gaza." | "Like the international community, Israel does not want to see support to Hamas," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said. "We want to see support for the people of Gaza." |
The Palestinian Authority has proposed that all aid to Gaza should be channelled through itself. | The Palestinian Authority has proposed that all aid to Gaza should be channelled through itself. |