Squabbling holds up rebuilding work after Gaza war

Squabbling among the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Israel is holding up vital reconstruction work in Gaza after Israel’s 11-day onslaught in May. Egyptian mediators have now been called in following the failure of a mission by UN envoy Tor Wennesland.

Hamas has rejected a reconstruction committee created by the PA in Ramallah, because it did not consult or coordinate with the competent authorities in Gaza. Instead, Hamas wants an independent commission to oversee funds and aid for reconstruction, which the PA rejects.

Meanwhile Israel has been accused of procrastination and blackmail over its attempts to link reconstruction to a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

The PA has denied trying to hijack the reconstruction process. “The government is not in com

‘How does the PA want to supervise the reconstruction while PM Shtayyeh made his foreign tour without visiting Gaza?

petition with any Palestinian party or faction, and is not interested in excluding anyone,” PA spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh has visited several countries, including Arab states, to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction, and Melhem said there was “consensus among the Arab brothers that the PA is the main address through which reconstruction funds pass.”

However, Hamas government official Naji Sarhan accused the PA of arrogance. “How does the PA want to supervise the reconstruction and control funds while Shtayyeh made his foreign tour without visiting Gaza and seeing its needs, and without talking to us for the sake of mutual understanding?” he said.