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| Rebuilding Gaza: Donors pledge $5.4bn at Cairo summit | Rebuilding Gaza: Donors pledge $5.4bn at Cairo summit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| International donors have pledged $5.4bn (£3.4bn) to help rebuild Gaza at a conference in Cairo. | International donors have pledged $5.4bn (£3.4bn) to help rebuild Gaza at a conference in Cairo. |
| The total, announced by the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Boerge Brende, exceeded the $4bn (£2.5bn) the Palestinian Authority had asked for. | The total, announced by the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Boerge Brende, exceeded the $4bn (£2.5bn) the Palestinian Authority had asked for. |
| Qatar alone promised $1bn (£622m). | Qatar alone promised $1bn (£622m). |
| At least 100,000 Gazans lost their homes in the 50-day conflict between Israel and Hamas, and much of the territory's infrastructure was damaged. | At least 100,000 Gazans lost their homes in the 50-day conflict between Israel and Hamas, and much of the territory's infrastructure was damaged. |
| Earlier the Palestinian and Egyptian presidents called on Israel to commit to a long-term peace initiative. | Earlier the Palestinian and Egyptian presidents called on Israel to commit to a long-term peace initiative. |
| Mahmoud Abbas and Abdul Fattah al-Sisi urged Israel to give up land seized in the 1967 Middle East war and accept a fair solution for Palestinian refugees in exchange for full recognition. | Mahmoud Abbas and Abdul Fattah al-Sisi urged Israel to give up land seized in the 1967 Middle East war and accept a fair solution for Palestinian refugees in exchange for full recognition. |
| The seven-week Gaza conflict, which ended in a truce on 26 August, killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, most of them civilians, the UN says, along with 67 Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel. | The seven-week Gaza conflict, which ended in a truce on 26 August, killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, most of them civilians, the UN says, along with 67 Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel. |
| 'Major breakthrough' | 'Major breakthrough' |
| Speaking at a news conference, Mr Brende said half of the $5.4bn promised would be dedicated to reconstruction, and the assistance would be distributed in response to the daily needs of Palestinians. | Speaking at a news conference, Mr Brende said half of the $5.4bn promised would be dedicated to reconstruction, and the assistance would be distributed in response to the daily needs of Palestinians. |
| "This is a major breakthrough, 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," he said. | "This is a major breakthrough, 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," he said. |
| Envoys from dozens of countries attended the Cairo conference, which was hosted by Egypt's President Sisi. | Envoys from dozens of countries attended the Cairo conference, which was hosted by Egypt's President Sisi. |
| The US pledged $212m (£132m) in new aid, while the United Arab Emirates and Turkey both committed $200m (£124m). | The US pledged $212m (£132m) in new aid, while the United Arab Emirates and Turkey both committed $200m (£124m). |
| European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said donations from member states would reach $568m (£353m). | European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said donations from member states would reach $568m (£353m). |
| Cycle of conflict | Cycle of conflict |
| Earlier US Secretary of State John Kerry said that with winter approaching, the thousands of Palestinians displaced from their homes needed urgent help. | Earlier US Secretary of State John Kerry said that with winter approaching, the thousands of Palestinians displaced from their homes needed urgent help. |
| "The people of Gaza do need our help desperately, not tomorrow, not next week, but they need it now" he said at the conference. | "The people of Gaza do need our help desperately, not tomorrow, not next week, but they need it now" he said at the conference. |
| He added that anything other than a long-term commitment to peace would be a "band-aid fix". | He added that anything other than a long-term commitment to peace would be a "band-aid fix". |
| At the opening of the conference, President Sisi urged "the Israelis, both the people and the government" to put an end to the conflict. | At the opening of the conference, President Sisi urged "the Israelis, both the people and the government" to put an end to the conflict. |
| "We should turn this moment into a real starting point to achieve a peace that secures stability and flourishing and renders the dream of coexistence a reality," he said. | "We should turn this moment into a real starting point to achieve a peace that secures stability and flourishing and renders the dream of coexistence a reality," he said. |
| Correspondents say some neighbourhoods in Gaza resembled earthquake zones following intense bombardment from Israel during the war. The Israeli air strikes had sought to halt rocket-fire from Gaza. | Correspondents say some neighbourhoods in Gaza resembled earthquake zones following intense bombardment from Israel during the war. The Israeli air strikes had sought to halt rocket-fire from Gaza. |
| The two sides have fought three wars in six years. | The two sides have fought three wars in six years. |
| Contentious issue | Contentious issue |
| Israel was not invited to the conference but Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman earlier said any rebuilding efforts would need his government's consent. | Israel was not invited to the conference but Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman earlier said any rebuilding efforts would need his government's consent. |
| "You can't reconstruct Gaza without Israeli participation and without Israeli co-operation," he told news website Ynet ahead of the meeting on Sunday. | "You can't reconstruct Gaza without Israeli participation and without Israeli co-operation," he told news website Ynet ahead of the meeting on Sunday. |
| "In any case, we will try to be positive about the civil infrastructure and the rehabilitation of civilians." | "In any case, we will try to be positive about the civil infrastructure and the rehabilitation of civilians." |
| Rebuilding depends on Israel allowing in enough construction materials, the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo reports. | Rebuilding depends on Israel allowing in enough construction materials, the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo reports. |
| This is a contentious issue because Hamas has used cement to build tunnels into Israeli territory in the past, our correspondent adds. | This is a contentious issue because Hamas has used cement to build tunnels into Israeli territory in the past, our correspondent adds. |
| Hour of need | Hour of need |
| Announcing the UK's $32m donation in Cairo, International Development Minister Desmond Swayne said the international community could not continue to pick up the pieces of the conflict indefinitely. | Announcing the UK's $32m donation in Cairo, International Development Minister Desmond Swayne said the international community could not continue to pick up the pieces of the conflict indefinitely. |
| "It is critical that reconstruction efforts now form part of a process of meaningful political change," he said. | "It is critical that reconstruction efforts now form part of a process of meaningful political change," he said. |
| The Gaza Strip, sandwiched between Israel and Egypt, has been a recurring flashpoint in the Israel-Palestinian conflict for years. | The Gaza Strip, sandwiched between Israel and Egypt, has been a recurring flashpoint in the Israel-Palestinian conflict for years. |
| Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005. | |
| Israel considered this the end of the occupation, though the UN continues to regard Gaza as part of Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory. | |
| Israel exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, waters and airspace, while Egypt controls Gaza's southern border. |