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US to donate '$900m in Gaza aid' | US to donate '$900m in Gaza aid' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The United States is preparing to donate some $900m (£621m) for Gaza, an Obama administration official said. | The United States is preparing to donate some $900m (£621m) for Gaza, an Obama administration official said. |
The aid would not go to Hamas, the group that controls the territory, but it would help the Palestinian Authority, the official added. | The aid would not go to Hamas, the group that controls the territory, but it would help the Palestinian Authority, the official added. |
It comes as the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prepares to attend a Palestinian donors' conference. | It comes as the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prepares to attend a Palestinian donors' conference. |
Any US aid would have to be approved by Congress, where some are wary that funds could still end up with Hamas. | Any US aid would have to be approved by Congress, where some are wary that funds could still end up with Hamas. |
The donors' conference in Egypt next week will discuss humanitarian and reconstruction needs in the Gaza Strip after Israel's recent military offensive. | The donors' conference in Egypt next week will discuss humanitarian and reconstruction needs in the Gaza Strip after Israel's recent military offensive. |
Two separate Palestinian surveys have put the cost of the damage at just under $2bn. | Two separate Palestinian surveys have put the cost of the damage at just under $2bn. |
Without power | Without power |
The US official spoke anonymously because the donation has not received final approval and he was not authorised to talk about it before it was announced by Mrs Clinton. | The US official spoke anonymously because the donation has not received final approval and he was not authorised to talk about it before it was announced by Mrs Clinton. |
The US secretary of state will travel to Egypt for the conference, which is being held next Monday. | The US secretary of state will travel to Egypt for the conference, which is being held next Monday. |
Later that week she will visit Israel, according to officials in Jerusalem, for her first trip to the region in her new role. GAZA CRISIS Gaza: Humanitarian situation Counting casualties of Gaza's warGaza slowly begins rebuilding | Later that week she will visit Israel, according to officials in Jerusalem, for her first trip to the region in her new role. GAZA CRISIS Gaza: Humanitarian situation Counting casualties of Gaza's warGaza slowly begins rebuilding |
She is also expected to visit the West Bank. Although she is unlikely to go to Gaza, a US official said. | She is also expected to visit the West Bank. Although she is unlikely to go to Gaza, a US official said. |
The US considers Hamas a terrorist organisation and refuses to deal with the group but it recognises the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | The US considers Hamas a terrorist organisation and refuses to deal with the group but it recognises the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. |
The aid would go to nongovernmental and UN organisations, with some going to the Palestinian Authority, the official said. | The aid would go to nongovernmental and UN organisations, with some going to the Palestinian Authority, the official said. |
Around 1,300 Palestinians, of whom 412 were children, were killed during the Israeli offensive on Gaza; 21,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged. Thirteen Israelis were killed during the three weeks of violence. | Around 1,300 Palestinians, of whom 412 were children, were killed during the Israeli offensive on Gaza; 21,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged. Thirteen Israelis were killed during the three weeks of violence. |
In its latest report, the UN says 90% of Gaza's 1.5m residents have intermittent electricity, while 50,000 people do not have access to piped water. | |
Israel meanwhile continues to keep Gaza's borders closed, allowing in only essential supplies. | Israel meanwhile continues to keep Gaza's borders closed, allowing in only essential supplies. |
Hamas has called for the reopening of the crossings as part of on-going Egyptian truce talks but Israel says there first needs to be an end to rocket fire from the territory, plus a halt to the smuggling of weapons and the release of a captive Israeli solider. | Hamas has called for the reopening of the crossings as part of on-going Egyptian truce talks but Israel says there first needs to be an end to rocket fire from the territory, plus a halt to the smuggling of weapons and the release of a captive Israeli solider. |
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