During a one-day conference on the reconstruction of Gaza held in the Egyptian capital Cairo, Minister Bassil emphasized that reconstruction is necessary; however, stressed that a limit should be set to the Israeli destruction of the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Gaza needs $4 billion to rebuild. He said the latest Gaza war caused "tragedies that are difficult to be described by words. ... Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble."
Donors plan to funnel the aid through Abbas' Palestinian Authority, and bypass Hamas. On hand for the conference were representatives of more than 50 countries, mostly foreign ministers, and at least 20 regional and international organizations, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and European Union negotiator Catherine Ashton.