The European Union has pledged $1 billion to help rebuild Gaza, but it remains unclear who will control the funds given Hamas's history of diverting humanitarian aid, according to an analysis.
The European Union has pledged $1 billion for Gaza reconstruction, but an analysis released Tuesday, July 14, highlights the unresolved question of who will control the funds, given Hamas's history of diverting humanitarian aid. The analysis comes a day after the EU assembled the billion-dollar fund with support from 12 countries and international financial institutions, as The Zioneer reported on Monday at 13:32 Jerusalem time.
That fund evolved over the course of Monday, July 13. At 13:32 Jerusalem, the European Commission announced an €884 million 'Gaza Initiative' backed by 12 countries, the European Investment Bank, and the World Bank, according to Channel 12. Within the same hour, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that nearly €900 million had been raised. By the afternoon, the total reached $1 billion from dozens of nations, as The Zioneer reported at 13:32 Jerusalem. The reporting moved from a single news outlet to official confirmation of the figures.
The Zioneer has reported on related background: On Monday, July 13, at 10:53 Jerusalem, the United Nations issued a rare direct statement accusing Hamas of stealing aid. On July 6, senior officials in the Gaza Peace Council told Channel 14 that reconstruction would not proceed without Hamas's disarmament and demilitarization. The US-established Gaza Board of Peace finalized governance plans for the Strip on June 29, but disarmament talks with the terror group remain stalled, as The Zioneer reported.
The analysis notes that the control of the reconstruction funds remains unresolved, and argues that without disarmament, reconstruction cannot begin. Disarmament negotiations have stalled, and the Gaza Peace Council has reiterated its position that no reconstruction will proceed without disarmament, leaving the question of fund control open.
5 developments
- StrongGaza reconstruction estimated at $70 billion to begin soon under 'Board of Peace'
- DevelopingReport: US pushes Gaza reconstruction and international force, cabinet blocks interim deal
- DevelopingGaza Board of Peace finalizes governance plans as disarmament talks stall
- StrongIsrael transfers NIS 1.1 billion to Gaza envelope rehabilitation
Source and signal
- Internal intake