International Donors Pledge $5.4 Billion to Rebuild Gaza
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Alex Wong/Getty Images(CAIRO) — At a meeting in Cairo this weekend, a group of international donors agreed to give more than $5 billion to help rebuild Gaza from recent Israeli rocket strikes.
The United States is pledging about $212 million of the approximately $5.4 billion total. According to BBC News, Qatar promised $1 billion.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Borg Brende made the announcement Sunday.
“This is a major breakthrough,” Brende said. “A very important signal of solidarity to the Palestinian people in general, and not at least to the people that are suffering so badly in Gaza.”
Secretary of State John Kerry said, “Today, I’m pleased to announce an additional immediate $212 million in assistance to the Palestinian people, but obviously we will have to see how things develop in the days ahead. But this immediate money will mean immediate relief for reconstruction.”
Kerry said both sides must work toward peace.
“Out of this conference must come not just money, but a renewed commitment from everybody to work for a peace that meets the aspirations of all — for Israelis, for Palestinians and for all peoples of this region.”
Kerry added, “This money will, we hope, help promote security, stability, economic development.”
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