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11/21/2024 05:50:04 pm

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Global Donors Pledge More Aid For Gaza, But Warn of Thinning Patience Over Endless Israel-Palestine Wars

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry

(Photo : REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pledged US$400 million for the Palestinian aid during the Cairo conference of international donors on Sunday, October 12, 2014. With other global donors, he urged Israel and Palestine to draw lasting peace agreements in Gaza

Global donors convened to raise money for rebuilding Gaza have pledged US$5.4 billion Sunday at the Cairo conference, while warning that this would be the last time the world would pay for conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende announced the total as the summit of close to 50 nations and 20 international and regional organizations ended in Cairo over the weekend.

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Brende said only half of the donations would go directly to reconstruction work without specifying where the rest would be used, reported BBC.

Hinting at Europe's growing impatience over the conflict, Brende said countries are weary of paying for the bill of rebuilding Gaza when Israelis and Palestinians have not yet made any lasting peace agreements.

The foreign minister emphasized, however, that Gazans cannot be held hostage to negotiations and that failure to respond now will only result to another war one or two years down the road, Voice of America cited Brende as saying.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged more than US$400 million for the Palestinian aid. He told the summit that the people of Gaza need help now, while urging Israel and Palestine to break the cycle of violence.

Qatar pledged US$1 billion for Gaza reconstruction, while Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have committed US$200 million each.

The European Union comprised of 29 nations has collectively pledged US$568 million.

The donations will be funneled through President Abbas' Palestinian Authority, which will carry out the reconstruction work in coordination with the United Nations and international donors, financial institutions and private groups, reported the Associated Press.

U.N chief Ban Ki-moon said the international community has clearly recognized the people of Gaza's needs, but emphasized this "must be the last Gaza reconstruction conference."

"Enough is enough," he said, urging warring parties to end the cycle of destroying and rebuilding.

Earlier, Palestinian officials have appealed to the world for US$4 billion dollars to rebuild Gaza that was shelled out by Israel during its 50-day offensive against Hamas militants in June.

According to Palestinian authorities, 2,145 people were killed during the hostilities. Seventy percent of which were civilians, said United Nations estimates. Israeli authorities claimed, however, that 1,000 of those killed were terrorists who were using civilians as human shields. 

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