14 mar 2015
Activists, journalists and officials launched a large-scale campaign to fund the construction of a medical complex in Rafah, to the south of Gaza Strip, and created a hashtag for this purpose.
The campaign also included organizing press conferences and various activities in many areas to highlight the medical needs of the province.
The first activity was launched on Friday evening under the hashtag #Rafah_needs_hospital, marking the beginning of a series of activities aimed at realizing the idea of establishing the badly-needed medical complex. A big number of tweets were posted calling for interacting and participating in the activities and shedding light on the desperate need for a central hospital in Rafah.
Activist Abdullah Lafi said, "Residents of Rafah were victims of the Friday massacre during the Israeli aggression on the Strip and literally couldn't find a hospital", pointing to the horrific massacre committed in the Gaza Strip on the first of August during the last war on the Strip, when the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) unleashed intensive gunfire and shelling after the Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin went missing.
The heavy gunfire and shelling led to the killing of about 100 citizens in one day, out of 443 killed in Rafah throughout 51 days of aggression, and the injury of hundreds who haven't received medical treatment due to the lack of a hospital in the area, especially after shelling Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital and isolating Rafah from Khan Younis.
Do justice to Rafah
For his part, Dr. Khalid Abu Nada said: "Do Justice to Rafah, I address all officials…in the government…in the charity institutions…in the national and Islamic forces… Rafah is the only city where there is no hospital; al-Najjar is actually a clinic and not a hospital."
Rafah is located in the southernmost of Gaza, its area is 55 Km2 and its population is about 220 thousand people. It is bound on the west by the Mediterranean, on the east by the 1948-armistice line, and on the south by the Egyptian-Palestinian borders.
Plans are ready
According to Rafah activists, planning for the construction of a medical complex in Rafah started by a committee called Friends of Rafah Medical Complex formed by a number of social figures.
Activist Muhammad al-Sharif said: "The 52-acre ground is ready and so are the engineering plans and the initial perception of the project in accordance with the international standards for healthcare institutions. Moreoever, a founding committee of independent national and Islamic figures is being formed to follow up on the implementation of this governmental project."
The committee said that the project will be handed to the Palestinian Ministry of Health after its implementation.
The committee is headed by Jamal Abu Hashim with Isa al-Nashar as the treasurer in addition to six members.
The ground allocated for the project is located along Abu Bakr al-Siddeek St. in the western area of Rafah, and it can be reached easily as it is not crowded. It provides a possibility for future expansion, the environmental conditions are appropriate with a suitable sea view and the needed infrastructure is available in the area.
The campaign concentrates on funding the hospital, hoping that this project will be adopted by the Qatari grant for the reconstruction of Gaza.
The campaign also included organizing press conferences and various activities in many areas to highlight the medical needs of the province.
The first activity was launched on Friday evening under the hashtag #Rafah_needs_hospital, marking the beginning of a series of activities aimed at realizing the idea of establishing the badly-needed medical complex. A big number of tweets were posted calling for interacting and participating in the activities and shedding light on the desperate need for a central hospital in Rafah.
Activist Abdullah Lafi said, "Residents of Rafah were victims of the Friday massacre during the Israeli aggression on the Strip and literally couldn't find a hospital", pointing to the horrific massacre committed in the Gaza Strip on the first of August during the last war on the Strip, when the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) unleashed intensive gunfire and shelling after the Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin went missing.
The heavy gunfire and shelling led to the killing of about 100 citizens in one day, out of 443 killed in Rafah throughout 51 days of aggression, and the injury of hundreds who haven't received medical treatment due to the lack of a hospital in the area, especially after shelling Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital and isolating Rafah from Khan Younis.
Do justice to Rafah
For his part, Dr. Khalid Abu Nada said: "Do Justice to Rafah, I address all officials…in the government…in the charity institutions…in the national and Islamic forces… Rafah is the only city where there is no hospital; al-Najjar is actually a clinic and not a hospital."
Rafah is located in the southernmost of Gaza, its area is 55 Km2 and its population is about 220 thousand people. It is bound on the west by the Mediterranean, on the east by the 1948-armistice line, and on the south by the Egyptian-Palestinian borders.
Plans are ready
According to Rafah activists, planning for the construction of a medical complex in Rafah started by a committee called Friends of Rafah Medical Complex formed by a number of social figures.
Activist Muhammad al-Sharif said: "The 52-acre ground is ready and so are the engineering plans and the initial perception of the project in accordance with the international standards for healthcare institutions. Moreoever, a founding committee of independent national and Islamic figures is being formed to follow up on the implementation of this governmental project."
The committee said that the project will be handed to the Palestinian Ministry of Health after its implementation.
The committee is headed by Jamal Abu Hashim with Isa al-Nashar as the treasurer in addition to six members.
The ground allocated for the project is located along Abu Bakr al-Siddeek St. in the western area of Rafah, and it can be reached easily as it is not crowded. It provides a possibility for future expansion, the environmental conditions are appropriate with a suitable sea view and the needed infrastructure is available in the area.
The campaign concentrates on funding the hospital, hoping that this project will be adopted by the Qatari grant for the reconstruction of Gaza.
Israeli navy ships opened fire, on Saturday at dawn, on a number of Palestinian fishing boats in Palestinian waters, in the Sudaniyya Sea area, northwest of Gaza City.
The fishers said they were less than four miles away from the Gaza shore, before the navy fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition, causing significant property damage but no injuries.
The navy conducts daily attacks against the fishers in Gaza, and their boats, in an attempt to prevent them from fishing, an issue that impacts the lives of dozens of thousands of Palestinians who depend on fishing as their only sources of livelihood to their families.
The attacks frequently lead to kidnapping some of the fishers, towing their boats, in addition to dozens of casualties, including fatalities.
Last Saturday, March 7, a Palestinian fisher was killed by Israeli Navy fire in Gaza territorial waters, and two others were kidnapped.
Two days before the attack, two fishers were shot and injured.
The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords, and come in direct violation of every ceasefire agreement.
The fishers said they were less than four miles away from the Gaza shore, before the navy fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition, causing significant property damage but no injuries.
The navy conducts daily attacks against the fishers in Gaza, and their boats, in an attempt to prevent them from fishing, an issue that impacts the lives of dozens of thousands of Palestinians who depend on fishing as their only sources of livelihood to their families.
The attacks frequently lead to kidnapping some of the fishers, towing their boats, in addition to dozens of casualties, including fatalities.
Last Saturday, March 7, a Palestinian fisher was killed by Israeli Navy fire in Gaza territorial waters, and two others were kidnapped.
Two days before the attack, two fishers were shot and injured.
The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords, and come in direct violation of every ceasefire agreement.
13 mar 2015
Officials meet over gulf state's plan to spend $1bn to rebuild 1,000 Gaza Strip; reported agreement to accelerate delivery of construction materials as funds remain scarce.
Officials from Israel and Qatar met this week to discuss the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, according to a knowledgeable Palestinian source.
Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Yoav Mordechai held a meeting with a Qatari official visiting Gaza. Qatar announced on Tuesday that it had begun a project to rebuild 1,000 homes as part of a $1 billion aid pledge.
Israel and Qatar do not officially have diplomatic relations. Criticism of Qatar in Israel increased at the end of Operation Protective Edge because of its support for Hamas and in light of the fact that it hosts the organization's political leadership and its leader, Khaled Mashal.
Mohammed al-Amadi, head of the Qatari Committee to Rebuild Gaza, arrived in Gaza on Monday. He traveled through Israel from the West Bank and entered Gaza at Erez Crossing, the only place visitors can enter or exit since Egypt closed Rafah Crossing a few months ago with rare exceptions.
Al-Amadi visited Qatari project sites in Gaza during his visit. His meeting with Mordechai occurred before his arrival in the strip, according to the Palestinian source. An agreement was reportedly reached to accelerate the delivery of construction materials for rebuilding Gaza through Kerem Shalom border crossing.
The Qatari emissary held a press conference in Gaza a few hours after the meeting, where he announced the new Qatari-funded rebuilding project.
Meanwhile, Israel has approved for the first time in years the delivery in Gaza of white center, which is much stronger than ordinary cement.
At a donors' conference in Cairo in October, some two months after the latest conflict ended in an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, Qatar said it would provide $1 billion in reconstruction assistance for Gaza.
In all, some $5.4 billion was pledged at the meeting, but little of that has reached the Gaza Strip.
UN officials have said internal Palestinian divisions have blocked oversight by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, Hamas's rival, of the import of building materials.
Officials from Israel and Qatar met this week to discuss the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, according to a knowledgeable Palestinian source.
Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Yoav Mordechai held a meeting with a Qatari official visiting Gaza. Qatar announced on Tuesday that it had begun a project to rebuild 1,000 homes as part of a $1 billion aid pledge.
Israel and Qatar do not officially have diplomatic relations. Criticism of Qatar in Israel increased at the end of Operation Protective Edge because of its support for Hamas and in light of the fact that it hosts the organization's political leadership and its leader, Khaled Mashal.
Mohammed al-Amadi, head of the Qatari Committee to Rebuild Gaza, arrived in Gaza on Monday. He traveled through Israel from the West Bank and entered Gaza at Erez Crossing, the only place visitors can enter or exit since Egypt closed Rafah Crossing a few months ago with rare exceptions.
Al-Amadi visited Qatari project sites in Gaza during his visit. His meeting with Mordechai occurred before his arrival in the strip, according to the Palestinian source. An agreement was reportedly reached to accelerate the delivery of construction materials for rebuilding Gaza through Kerem Shalom border crossing.
The Qatari emissary held a press conference in Gaza a few hours after the meeting, where he announced the new Qatari-funded rebuilding project.
Meanwhile, Israel has approved for the first time in years the delivery in Gaza of white center, which is much stronger than ordinary cement.
At a donors' conference in Cairo in October, some two months after the latest conflict ended in an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, Qatar said it would provide $1 billion in reconstruction assistance for Gaza.
In all, some $5.4 billion was pledged at the meeting, but little of that has reached the Gaza Strip.
UN officials have said internal Palestinian divisions have blocked oversight by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, Hamas's rival, of the import of building materials.
Israeli forces, Thursday evening, opened fire at Palestinians on land east of the city of Khuzaa, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that Israeli soldiers deployed at the border opened fire on individuals who were on private Palestinian land east of Khan Younis.
They said that no injuries were reported as a result of the attack.
An Israeli military spokeswoman did not return a request for comment.
Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire toward Palestinian civilians near the border, in the five months since the signing of the ceasefire agreement that ended a summer-long assault on Gaza that left around 2,200 dead and 11,000 injured.
Related video: Gaza City's Devastated Al-Shuja'eyya Suburb
The attacks come despite Israeli promises at the end of the ceasefire that restrictions on Palestinian access to the border region would be lessened.
The "security buffer zone" before the Israeli assault extended between 500 meters and 1,500 meters into the Strip, effectively turning local farms into no-go zones.
According to UNOCHA, 17 percent of Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.
During the war, the buffer zone covered nearly half of the entire Gaza Strip, but, immediately following the cessation of hostilities, was reduced to former levels, with promises that it would be pulled back further.
The border restrictions are part of Israel's broader siege on the Gaza Strip in place for the last eight years, which largely prohibits both imports and exports and has led to a severe collapse in the tiny coastal enclave's economy.
The blockade has led to frequent humanitarian crises for Gazans, and the United Nations and various human rights groups have repeatedly called on Israel to lift it.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that Israeli soldiers deployed at the border opened fire on individuals who were on private Palestinian land east of Khan Younis.
They said that no injuries were reported as a result of the attack.
An Israeli military spokeswoman did not return a request for comment.
Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire toward Palestinian civilians near the border, in the five months since the signing of the ceasefire agreement that ended a summer-long assault on Gaza that left around 2,200 dead and 11,000 injured.
Related video: Gaza City's Devastated Al-Shuja'eyya Suburb
The attacks come despite Israeli promises at the end of the ceasefire that restrictions on Palestinian access to the border region would be lessened.
The "security buffer zone" before the Israeli assault extended between 500 meters and 1,500 meters into the Strip, effectively turning local farms into no-go zones.
According to UNOCHA, 17 percent of Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.
During the war, the buffer zone covered nearly half of the entire Gaza Strip, but, immediately following the cessation of hostilities, was reduced to former levels, with promises that it would be pulled back further.
The border restrictions are part of Israel's broader siege on the Gaza Strip in place for the last eight years, which largely prohibits both imports and exports and has led to a severe collapse in the tiny coastal enclave's economy.
The blockade has led to frequent humanitarian crises for Gazans, and the United Nations and various human rights groups have repeatedly called on Israel to lift it.
12 mar 2015
Head of the Qatari project, Mohammed al-Emadi, announced Wednesday that the status of reconstruction in Gaza is to witness a real breakthrough, noting that Qatar is to provide 70% of the needed construction materials for the projects.
Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency reports that, during a Wednesday night TV interview, al-Emadi explained that he advised Rami Hamdallah, the head of Palestinian reconciliation government, to form committees similar to the Qatari committees for facilitating the projects.
He noted that the stance of the reconciliation government and Israel, towards reconstruction of Gaza, is positive, expressing hopes that plans could be enacted in just a short time.
He said that he is to meet Hamdallah in Ramallah, soon, in order to discuss the Gaza file, and to solve the crisis there. In addition to reconstructing Gaza after the 50-day Israeli assault, Qatar intends to provide work for the unemployed, so that they can support their families.
He explained that the projects depends, instead of on foreign companies, on the local Palestinian competencies and labor to provide them with a chance to work.
In a joint conference with the minister of Public Works and Housing, Mofeed al-Husaana, al-Emadi announced on Tuesday the launch of projects to rebuild 1,000 homes destroyed by war in the region.
Qatar pledged $1 billion at an October donor conference in Cairo, almost a fifth of the total $5.4 billion promised in international aid.
Al-Emadi also noted that Qatar strives to solve the electricity crisis in Gaza. "Solving the electricity crisis needs a political decision from the reconciliation government," he explained. He said that talks are on providing a line of 120 MW, from Egypt 32 MW, and the company is to provide 60MW by working with gas instead of industrial diesel.
Gaza needs 400 MW of electricity around 24 hours , while in fact just a 210 MW is provided.
Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency reports that, during a Wednesday night TV interview, al-Emadi explained that he advised Rami Hamdallah, the head of Palestinian reconciliation government, to form committees similar to the Qatari committees for facilitating the projects.
He noted that the stance of the reconciliation government and Israel, towards reconstruction of Gaza, is positive, expressing hopes that plans could be enacted in just a short time.
He said that he is to meet Hamdallah in Ramallah, soon, in order to discuss the Gaza file, and to solve the crisis there. In addition to reconstructing Gaza after the 50-day Israeli assault, Qatar intends to provide work for the unemployed, so that they can support their families.
He explained that the projects depends, instead of on foreign companies, on the local Palestinian competencies and labor to provide them with a chance to work.
In a joint conference with the minister of Public Works and Housing, Mofeed al-Husaana, al-Emadi announced on Tuesday the launch of projects to rebuild 1,000 homes destroyed by war in the region.
Qatar pledged $1 billion at an October donor conference in Cairo, almost a fifth of the total $5.4 billion promised in international aid.
Al-Emadi also noted that Qatar strives to solve the electricity crisis in Gaza. "Solving the electricity crisis needs a political decision from the reconciliation government," he explained. He said that talks are on providing a line of 120 MW, from Egypt 32 MW, and the company is to provide 60MW by working with gas instead of industrial diesel.
Gaza needs 400 MW of electricity around 24 hours , while in fact just a 210 MW is provided.
Israeli navy ships opened fire, on Thursday morning, on a number of Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza territorial waters, in the Sudaniyya Sea area, northwest of Gaza City.
Local fishers said the navy fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition towards a number of fishing boats less than four miles off the coast.
The fishers had to sail back to shore in order to avoid further Israeli escalation; no injuries were reported.
Gaza fishers are subject to daily attacks and violations in Palestinian territorial waters within the six nautical miles the Palestinians are allowed to sail in and fish.
The Navy even attacked fishing boats, and fishers, while the boats were docked on shore.
Dozens of thousands of families in the besieged coastal region depend on fishing as their only sources of livelihood.
The repeated Israeli violations against the fishers led to dozens of casualties, including several fatalities, while scores of fishers have been kidnapped and their boats were toad to Israeli shores.
The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Earlier on Saturday, March 7, a Palestinian fisher identified as Tawfiq Abu Ryala, 34, was shot and killed by Israeli navy fire in Palestinian territorial waters, less than six nautical miles off the coast. Two fishermen were kidnapped.
Local fishers said the navy fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition towards a number of fishing boats less than four miles off the coast.
The fishers had to sail back to shore in order to avoid further Israeli escalation; no injuries were reported.
Gaza fishers are subject to daily attacks and violations in Palestinian territorial waters within the six nautical miles the Palestinians are allowed to sail in and fish.
The Navy even attacked fishing boats, and fishers, while the boats were docked on shore.
Dozens of thousands of families in the besieged coastal region depend on fishing as their only sources of livelihood.
The repeated Israeli violations against the fishers led to dozens of casualties, including several fatalities, while scores of fishers have been kidnapped and their boats were toad to Israeli shores.
The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Earlier on Saturday, March 7, a Palestinian fisher identified as Tawfiq Abu Ryala, 34, was shot and killed by Israeli navy fire in Palestinian territorial waters, less than six nautical miles off the coast. Two fishermen were kidnapped.
Ambassador Mohamed al-Emadi, Head of Qatar’s National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, expected a real breakthrough in Gaza reconstruction process during the coming period.
Emadi said in an interview aired on al-Aqsa TV Channel on Wednesday night that Qatar suggested to Rami al-Hamdallah, premier of the unity government, to start the reconstruction process by forming committees like the Qatari Committee.
He also stressed that the Arab countries must follow the example of Qatar in supporting Gaza and providing the Palestinian people in general and the Gazans in particular with the badly needed services in light of the consecutive wars and the current crises they are facing.
Emadi attributed the success of the Qatari projects to the Palestinian competencies, affirming that the projects aim to employ the Palestinians in addition to reconstructing the Strip.
Emadi pointed out that the electricity problem in Gaza must be solved by the Palestinian unity government.
The Qatari ambassador visited the Strip on March 10 and launched a project to rebuild a thousand housing units completely destroyed during the last Israeli war on Gaza.
Qatar is carrying out a number of housing and infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip at a cost of 407 million dollars pledged by the former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa during his visit to the Strip in October 2012.
Emadi said in an interview aired on al-Aqsa TV Channel on Wednesday night that Qatar suggested to Rami al-Hamdallah, premier of the unity government, to start the reconstruction process by forming committees like the Qatari Committee.
He also stressed that the Arab countries must follow the example of Qatar in supporting Gaza and providing the Palestinian people in general and the Gazans in particular with the badly needed services in light of the consecutive wars and the current crises they are facing.
Emadi attributed the success of the Qatari projects to the Palestinian competencies, affirming that the projects aim to employ the Palestinians in addition to reconstructing the Strip.
Emadi pointed out that the electricity problem in Gaza must be solved by the Palestinian unity government.
The Qatari ambassador visited the Strip on March 10 and launched a project to rebuild a thousand housing units completely destroyed during the last Israeli war on Gaza.
Qatar is carrying out a number of housing and infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip at a cost of 407 million dollars pledged by the former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa during his visit to the Strip in October 2012.
11 mar 2015
Several armored Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers carried out, on Wednesday morning, a limited invasion into an area east of the al-Maghazi refugee camp, in central Gaza, and bulldozed farmlands.
Eyewitnesses said the vehicles, accompanied by four armored D9 bulldozers, stationed in the Kissufim military base across the border fence, advanced into the area while firing rounds of live ammunition at a number of homes, causing damage but no injuries.
They added that the army bulldozed and uprooted Palestinian lands, and fired rounds of live ammunition at local farmers, forcing them to leave.
The invasion is part of daily Israeli violations against the Palestinians in the besieged and impoverished coastal region.
Such attacks, include uprooting farmlands, and repeated assaults on fishers in Gaza waters and even while on shore.
Last Saturday, Israeli navy gunships opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats killing Tawfiq Abu Ryala, 34, and kidnapped two others.
Eyewitnesses said the vehicles, accompanied by four armored D9 bulldozers, stationed in the Kissufim military base across the border fence, advanced into the area while firing rounds of live ammunition at a number of homes, causing damage but no injuries.
They added that the army bulldozed and uprooted Palestinian lands, and fired rounds of live ammunition at local farmers, forcing them to leave.
The invasion is part of daily Israeli violations against the Palestinians in the besieged and impoverished coastal region.
Such attacks, include uprooting farmlands, and repeated assaults on fishers in Gaza waters and even while on shore.
Last Saturday, Israeli navy gunships opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats killing Tawfiq Abu Ryala, 34, and kidnapped two others.
Head of Qatar’s National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza Ambassador Mohamed Emadi declared that his country is mobilizing Arab and international efforts for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
He pointed out that Qatar has been working to activate the reconstruction of the besieged Strip that witnessed three wars during which more than 100,000 homes were either completely demolished or partially destroyed.
During a press conference held in Gaza with Housing Minister Mufid al-Hasayna on Tuesday, Emadi said that his country’s efforts for the reconstruction of Gaza are still continuing.
He announced plans to build 1,000 housing units in the blockaded Strip.
"The building of 1,000 housing units comes as part of a one billion dollars donation towards the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip," Emadi declared.
During the conference, he called on donor countries to meet their aid pledges for rebuilding the devastated Gaza Strip following a 51-day Israeli offensive last summer.
“Qatar made a pledge at the donor conference. Today we are putting that into effect, by beginning construction of 1,000 housing units,” the head of the Qatari project said.
Emadi pointed out that his committee will coordinate with the Palestinian unity government for the reconstruction of Gaza after ensuring the construction materials’ access to the Strip.
He expressed his gratitude to the former Palestinian government in Gaza Strip for “the good cooperation and support to the Qatari-funded projects.”
For his part, Palestinian Housing Minister Mufid al-Hasayna stated that Qatar was the largest single donor at the October conference in Cairo to raise funds to help rebuild the Strip.
This is good news for more than 7,000 displaced people who are currently living in emergency shelters, al-Hasayna said at the conference.
The reconstruction of Gaza could never be achieved without the opening of Gaza border crossings, he underlined.
For its part, Hamas Movement welcomed the National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza Ambassador Mohamed Emadi’s visit to Gaza and his declaration to build 1,000 housing units.
Hamas hailed the Qatari “blessed” efforts made for the reconstruction of Gaza following Israel’s summer aggression.
The Movement called on Arab and Islamic countries to follow in Qatar’s steps and to meet its pledges given during Cairo donor conference.
Emadi arrived on Monday evening in the Gaza Strip via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to inspect the Qatari projects that started almost two years ago in the besieged Strip.
In 2012, Qatar decided to direct financial assistance for the reconstruction of Gaza. About $500 million were allocated to purchase construction materials from Egypt for the establishment of Qatari housing and infrastructure projects in the Strip.
He pointed out that Qatar has been working to activate the reconstruction of the besieged Strip that witnessed three wars during which more than 100,000 homes were either completely demolished or partially destroyed.
During a press conference held in Gaza with Housing Minister Mufid al-Hasayna on Tuesday, Emadi said that his country’s efforts for the reconstruction of Gaza are still continuing.
He announced plans to build 1,000 housing units in the blockaded Strip.
"The building of 1,000 housing units comes as part of a one billion dollars donation towards the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip," Emadi declared.
During the conference, he called on donor countries to meet their aid pledges for rebuilding the devastated Gaza Strip following a 51-day Israeli offensive last summer.
“Qatar made a pledge at the donor conference. Today we are putting that into effect, by beginning construction of 1,000 housing units,” the head of the Qatari project said.
Emadi pointed out that his committee will coordinate with the Palestinian unity government for the reconstruction of Gaza after ensuring the construction materials’ access to the Strip.
He expressed his gratitude to the former Palestinian government in Gaza Strip for “the good cooperation and support to the Qatari-funded projects.”
For his part, Palestinian Housing Minister Mufid al-Hasayna stated that Qatar was the largest single donor at the October conference in Cairo to raise funds to help rebuild the Strip.
This is good news for more than 7,000 displaced people who are currently living in emergency shelters, al-Hasayna said at the conference.
The reconstruction of Gaza could never be achieved without the opening of Gaza border crossings, he underlined.
For its part, Hamas Movement welcomed the National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza Ambassador Mohamed Emadi’s visit to Gaza and his declaration to build 1,000 housing units.
Hamas hailed the Qatari “blessed” efforts made for the reconstruction of Gaza following Israel’s summer aggression.
The Movement called on Arab and Islamic countries to follow in Qatar’s steps and to meet its pledges given during Cairo donor conference.
Emadi arrived on Monday evening in the Gaza Strip via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to inspect the Qatari projects that started almost two years ago in the besieged Strip.
In 2012, Qatar decided to direct financial assistance for the reconstruction of Gaza. About $500 million were allocated to purchase construction materials from Egypt for the establishment of Qatari housing and infrastructure projects in the Strip.
10 mar 2015
A minimum of a million and a half tons of cement is required to reconstruct what had been destroyed by Israel’s last summer offensive on blockaded Gaza, Head of the Consumer Protection Department at the Palestinian Ministry of Economy, Imad al-Baz, said Monday.
Addressing the economics committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) during a session held in Gaza, Imad al-Baz said the quantity of cement dispatched to Gaza so far has reached 45,000 tons only.
He said most of the cement delivered by the UNRWA has been allotted to rebuilding the UN-run schools and facilities destroyed in the Israeli war in addition to refugees whose homes were damaged in the same aggression.
Al-Baz stressed the need to respect the official tariffs delineated by the Ministry of National Economy, estimated at some 520 shekels per every single ton and 26 shekels per a cement bag.
He said the ministry issued instructions to never hand the cement bags to refugees except after checking their identity cards and having them sign a delivery notice. The ministry warned a tougher line would be adopted against any attempts to use the refugees’ cement bags as bargaining chips.
The ministry pledged to take the necessary legal procedures and actions against any violations emerging in the process of cement distribution.
Addressing the economics committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) during a session held in Gaza, Imad al-Baz said the quantity of cement dispatched to Gaza so far has reached 45,000 tons only.
He said most of the cement delivered by the UNRWA has been allotted to rebuilding the UN-run schools and facilities destroyed in the Israeli war in addition to refugees whose homes were damaged in the same aggression.
Al-Baz stressed the need to respect the official tariffs delineated by the Ministry of National Economy, estimated at some 520 shekels per every single ton and 26 shekels per a cement bag.
He said the ministry issued instructions to never hand the cement bags to refugees except after checking their identity cards and having them sign a delivery notice. The ministry warned a tougher line would be adopted against any attempts to use the refugees’ cement bags as bargaining chips.
The ministry pledged to take the necessary legal procedures and actions against any violations emerging in the process of cement distribution.
Israeli occupation gunboats opened machinegun fire on Palestinian fishing boats in Beit Lahiya waters, north of the blockaded Gaza Strip, on Monday night in a renewed violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Media sources said the machinegun fire was randomly unleashed by the Israeli gunboats on Palestinians’ fishing vessels. No injuries have yet been reported.
The attack is another episode in the series of Israeli daily violations of the Cairo-brokered truce accord signed in the wake of last summer’s offensive on the besieged coastal enclave, which killed over 2,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
Media sources said the machinegun fire was randomly unleashed by the Israeli gunboats on Palestinians’ fishing vessels. No injuries have yet been reported.
The attack is another episode in the series of Israeli daily violations of the Cairo-brokered truce accord signed in the wake of last summer’s offensive on the besieged coastal enclave, which killed over 2,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
308 Palestinian women were killed, some 2,150 were injured, and over 790 became widows during the latest Israeli offensive on Gaza, Palestinian Minister of Women’s Affairs, Haifa al-Agha said Monday.
The statistics were delivered during an open meeting organized by the Municipality of Khan Younis to mark the International Women’s Day. The meeting addressed the role of feminist institutions in activating women’s social role.
Minister al-Agha raised alarm bells over the dire circumstances endured by the Palestinian woman, who, as time has passed by, has not only been subjected to starvation and tough blockade policies but has also been the permanent target of kidnaps, homicides, and deprivation of her simplest rights.
Al-Agha called for the need to rally round the Palestinian woman and provide her with the financial and psychological support needed to bring out the best in her.
She pointed out the role played by the feminist institutions in propping up the moral, psychological, and economic assistance to the casualties of the latest Israeli war on blockaded Gaza.
For his part, the Khan Younis Mayor, Yahya al-Astal, hailed the vital role fulfilled by the Palestinian woman in all national and international forums.
“The Palestinian woman is an icon of self-abnegation, patience and sacrifice,” he said, adding, “Islam has uplifted and dignified women like no other religion on Earth did.”
Dalal al-Taji, from the Palestine Red Crescent, pointed out, meanwhile, the unparalleled success and achievements accomplished by Palestinian women thanks to their multi-disciplinary knacks.
The statistics were delivered during an open meeting organized by the Municipality of Khan Younis to mark the International Women’s Day. The meeting addressed the role of feminist institutions in activating women’s social role.
Minister al-Agha raised alarm bells over the dire circumstances endured by the Palestinian woman, who, as time has passed by, has not only been subjected to starvation and tough blockade policies but has also been the permanent target of kidnaps, homicides, and deprivation of her simplest rights.
Al-Agha called for the need to rally round the Palestinian woman and provide her with the financial and psychological support needed to bring out the best in her.
She pointed out the role played by the feminist institutions in propping up the moral, psychological, and economic assistance to the casualties of the latest Israeli war on blockaded Gaza.
For his part, the Khan Younis Mayor, Yahya al-Astal, hailed the vital role fulfilled by the Palestinian woman in all national and international forums.
“The Palestinian woman is an icon of self-abnegation, patience and sacrifice,” he said, adding, “Islam has uplifted and dignified women like no other religion on Earth did.”
Dalal al-Taji, from the Palestine Red Crescent, pointed out, meanwhile, the unparalleled success and achievements accomplished by Palestinian women thanks to their multi-disciplinary knacks.
Truce violations List of names Pictures of martyrs
Days: Aug: 26 - 25 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 21 - 20 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16 - 15 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1
July: 31 - 30 - 29 - 28 - 27 - 26 - 25 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 21 - 20 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16 - 15 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 8