UN envoy says Gaza reconstruction speeding up
Nikolay Mladenov says Palestinian Authority should take full control of coastal territory's rehabilitation
GAZA CITY — The United Nations’ Mideast envoy on Thursday gave a rare upbeat assessment in the Gaza Strip, saying that reconstruction from last year’s war between Israel and Hamas terrorists is speeding up.
Thousands of homes were destroyed or damaged in the 50 days of fighting, as Israel targeted military infrastructure within residential areas of the Strip. The reconstruction of hundreds of houses started last month with help from Qatar, which has donated millions of dollars to rebuild 1,000 housing units.
“I’m very happy to be able to report today that the reconstruction effort has visibly accelerated within the last two months,” said Nikolay Mladenov, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process.
Construction materials are shipped into Gaza from Israel through a UN-supervised program that ensures the goods are not diverted to Hamas military projects.
The program has approved applications from 3,400 families. Of them, 1,400 have already received cement, steel and gravel to start rebuilding.
However, Mladenov noted that faster reconstruction requires the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority to take full control and responsibility in the Hamas-run territory.
A unity deal reached last year was never implemented, and Hamas, which seized Gaza in 2007, remains firmly in control. The terror group is sworn to Israel’s destruction, branded a terrorist group by Israel and the West, and is largely isolated internationally.
“We are very far from reaching the goal of restoring normal life to Gaza,” Mladenov said.
More than 2,200 Palestinians were killed during the war, as well as 73 people, including six civilians, on the Israeli side. Israel says about half of the Palestinians killed were fighters.