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Donors asked to pledge Gaza cash Donors set to pledge aid for Gaza
(about 1 hour later)
International donors are expected to pledge billions of dollars to rebuild Gaza after Israel's recent offensive as they meet in Egypt. International donors meeting in Egypt are expected to pledge billions of dollars to rebuild Gaza after Israel's recent offensive.
Teams from some 75 nations are in Sharm el-Sheikh, among them US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is among delegates from some 70 nations in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
In his opening speech, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the "priority is to reach a truce between Israel and Palestinians". The Palestinian Authority (PA) is seeking $2.8bn (£2bn) in foreign aid.
The Palestinian Authority is seeking $2.8bn (£2bn) in foreign aid. PA President Mahmoud Abbas told the conference that funding was "insufficient" without a political solution to the crisis in the region.
Thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed in the three-week offensive. All but essential supplies are still subject to Israeli blockades at the crossing points into Gaza.
However, all but essential supplies are still subject to Israeli blockades at the crossing points into Gaza.
And donors stress that aid should not be channelled through Hamas, which both the US and the EU regard as a terrorist organisation.And donors stress that aid should not be channelled through Hamas, which both the US and the EU regard as a terrorist organisation.
Some 1,300 Palestinians, of whom 412 were children, were killed during fighting in December and January. Some 1,300 Palestinians, of whom 412 were children, were killed during fighting in December and January, with thousands of homes and businesses destroyed.
Israel and Hamas declared unilateral truces on 17 January. Neither are attending the conference.Israel and Hamas declared unilateral truces on 17 January. Neither are attending the conference.
Clinton's warning 'One viable future'
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has asked for $2.8bn (£2bn) of aid from donors during the one-day conference at Egypt's premier Red Sea resort. I will be announcing a commitment to a significant aid package Hillary Clinton US Secretary of State class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7918089.stm">Clinton's delicate Mid-east tour Donations from the one-day conference at Egypt's Red Sea resort are expected to exceed the Palestinians request for $2.8bn (£2bn).
"We expect rapid international aid from all parties to completely rebuild Gaza," Mr Abbas told reporters ahead of the conference. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is believed to have brought with her a cheque for $900m, while Saudi Arabia is expected to reaffirm its promised $1bn (£703m) for Gaza.
He also stressed that all aid to Gaza should be channelled through his Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, which won elections to the Palestinian parliament in 2006 and consolidated its control by force a year later. The situation at the border crossings is intolerable Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary General class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7918089.stm">Clinton's delicate Mid-east tour
Hillary Clinton, who is making her first visit to the Middle East as America's top diplomat, is reportedly carrying a cheque for $900m for Gaza. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told delegates that while the all the support was appreciated, "we insist on the pressing need to achieve substantial progress towards a just settlement [of the conflict with Israel]".
But she has already warned that the aid would depend on Palestinians' meeting the conditions of the "Quartet" of Middle East mediators - the EU, UN, US and Russia. "We are all conscious that the reconstruction and development efforts will remain insufficient, powerless and threatened in the absence of a political settlement," he said at the conference.
"I will be announcing a commitment to a significant aid package. But it will only be spent if we determine that our goals can be furthered rather than undermined or subverted," she said on Saturday. The conference heard similar calls from other speakers.
After the conference, Mrs Clinton will go to Israel and the Palestinian territories to meet leaders from both sides. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told delegates: "There is only one viable future: Palestinians and Israelis living side by side in peace and security."
Saudi Arabia, another major donor, has already promised $1bn (£703m) to Gaza, and is expected to reaffirm its commitment in Sharm el-Sheikh. "If ever there were a time to think freshly, to lead boldly, it is now," he added.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged "responsible Palestinians" to seek peace with Israel.
"You must admit that there is no other road to the creation of a Palestinian state but to engage resolutely in searching for a political solution and engage in a dialogue with Israel," he said in a message to Hamas.
Hillary Clinton, who is making her first visit to the Middle East as America's top diplomat, is expected to tell the conference that the response to the crisis in Gaza "cannot be separated from our broader efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace".
She is due to go to Israel and the Palestinian territories to meet leaders from both sides once the conference is over.
'Open crossings''Open crossings'
The main obstacle to reconstruction of Gaza are the crossings which remain largely closed to all but essential supplies, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Sharm el-Sheikh.The main obstacle to reconstruction of Gaza are the crossings which remain largely closed to all but essential supplies, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Sharm el-Sheikh.
John Ging, head of the UN relief and works agency (Unrwa) in Gaza, said they were currently not even able to get donated food and medicine through. Ban Ki-moon 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.
"By the same token, however, it is therefore essential to ensure that illegal weapons do not enter Gaza."
GAZA DESTRUCTION 14,000 homes219 factories240 schools UNDP estimatesGAZA DESTRUCTION 14,000 homes219 factories240 schools UNDP estimates
"Unless the crossings are open we cannot expect any improvement in the situation here," he said.
"It's more urgent today than it has ever been before to find a solution to get these crossing points open, to get these materials in."
Israel said it fully supported the conference and the idea of strengthening support for the people of Gaza through humanitarian and reconstruction aid.Israel said it fully supported the conference and the idea of strengthening support for the people of Gaza through humanitarian and reconstruction aid.
"But we must be clear," spokesman Mark Regev said. "Like the international community, Israel does not want to see support to Hamas. We want to see support for the people of Gaza.""But we must be clear," spokesman Mark Regev said. "Like the international community, Israel does not want to see support to Hamas. We want to see support for the people of Gaza."
The Palestinian Authority has proposed that all aid to Gaza is channelled through itself rather than Hamas, which won elections to the Palestinian parliament in 2006 and consolidated its control of Gaza by force a year later.
Although Israel and the Middle East Quartet refuse to speak to Hamas, UN agencies working in Gaza do co-ordinate with the Hamas government.Although Israel and the Middle East Quartet refuse to speak to Hamas, UN agencies working in Gaza do co-ordinate with the Hamas government.
UN relief agency Unrwa says it has contacts with Hamas "even at ministerial level", but strictly on technical issues related to the delivery of its humanitarian services in line with wider UN policy.UN relief agency Unrwa says it has contacts with Hamas "even at ministerial level", but strictly on technical issues related to the delivery of its humanitarian services in line with wider UN policy.
Do you think an international aid effort is enough to rebuild Gaza? Are you in the region? Send us your comments using the form below.Do you think an international aid effort is enough to rebuild Gaza? Are you in the region? Send us your comments using the form below.
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