Al-Khodary: Siege of Gaza represents the most serious obstacle to reconstruction

Palestinian MP Jamal Al-Khodary, of the Popular Committee Against the Siege, has said that the Israeli blockade against the Gaza Strip, which restricts the entry of construction materials, constitutes the most serious obstacle to the reconstruction of the Strip and is serving to exacerbate an already deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Al-Khodary stressed that the key to the reconstruction of Gaza lies in lifting the blockade and the implementation of donor pledges made during the Reconstruction of Gaza Conference in Cairo, which took place in October last year following the devastating Israeli offensive against the Strip over the summer.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, Al-Khodary explained that the building materials allowed to enter the Strip by the Israeli occupation since October of last year do not meet Gaza's needs.

He pointed to the availability of funding – amounting to about $400 million – for projects belonging to Arab and international institutions, as well as the private sector; but that they have all been put on hold due to the Israeli blockade. more

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