Palestinian Delegation Visits Egypt to Discuss Gaza Reconstruction

Egyptian workers in the Gaza Strip work to remove the rubble of destroyed buildings
Egyptian workers in the Gaza Strip work to remove the rubble of destroyed buildings
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Palestinian Delegation Visits Egypt to Discuss Gaza Reconstruction

Egyptian workers in the Gaza Strip work to remove the rubble of destroyed buildings
Egyptian workers in the Gaza Strip work to remove the rubble of destroyed buildings

A Palestinian government delegation left Sunday for Egypt to discuss the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the 11-day war with Israel, according to Palestinian sources.

The sources told the German News Agency that the delegation includes officials from the ministries of public works, housing, and economy in Gaza, accompanied by the head of the Contractors Union in the Strip.

The delegation left for Egypt through the Rafah crossing on a several-hour visit.

The Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Gaza began on Friday the removal of rubble from collapsed buildings with Egyptian support to pave way for reconstruction efforts.

Egypt sent about 50 trucks to Gaza through the Rafah crossing to help with the process.

Local sources in Gaza estimate that the fighting between Israel and Hamas has left up to 300,000 tons of rubble.

The Ministry of Public Works in Gaza said that 1,200 housing units were completely demolished, 1,000 housing units were partially destroyed, and 20,000 housing units were slightly damaged.

The cost of the reconstruction of those housing units was estimated at $150 million.

Egypt sponsored the ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian factions and Israel in the Gaza Strip after the 11-day war, during which more than 250 Palestinians were killed.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian government announced that Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh is scheduled to arrive in Doha Monday on an official visit to discuss several issues, including the reconstruction of Gaza.

Shtayyeh, accompanied by Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, will hold meetings with Qatari officials to discuss the ramifications of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, including the resumption of international and Qatari aid to Palestine.

The PM will also discuss with the Qatari officials the promotion of trade between Qatar and Palestine and the creation of job opportunities for Palestinians in the Gulf country.



Egypt, Syria Warn of Danger of Regional Spillover of Gaza War

Egypt's Sisi and Syria's Assad meet in Riyadh in November. (Egyptian presidency)
Egypt's Sisi and Syria's Assad meet in Riyadh in November. (Egyptian presidency)
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Egypt, Syria Warn of Danger of Regional Spillover of Gaza War

Egypt's Sisi and Syria's Assad meet in Riyadh in November. (Egyptian presidency)
Egypt's Sisi and Syria's Assad meet in Riyadh in November. (Egyptian presidency)

Egypt and Syria warned on Saturday of the danger of the spillover of the war in Gaza into the region.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held telephone talks to congratulate each other on the occasion of the Muslim new year.

They discussed regional developments, expressing their rejection of the displacement of Palestinians inside or outside their territories.

They hoped that relations between Cairo and Damascus would be restored to the way they were before the eruption of the Syrian conflict in 2011.

Both sides had achieved some rapprochement following the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Türkiye in 2023.

An Egyptian presidency spokesman said Sisi and Assad underscored the need to prevent the Gaza conflict from expanding into the region. They also stressed the need to maintain regional security and stability.

The Syrian presidency said Assad congratulated Sisi on the occasion of the victory of the June 30 revolution during which the Egyptian people defeated extremism.

The Syrian and Egyptian people constantly stand against extremism, which has helped protect the countries of the region and their people, it added according to the Syrian state news agency SANA.

Egypt and Syria have developed their relations in wake of the 2023 earthquake. Their foreign ministers have traded mutual visits and Sisi and Assad held telephone talks after the quake. They also met for the first time in November on the sidelines of the Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh.

Former aide to the Egyptian foreign minister Hussein Haridi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the telephone call between Sisi and Assad was a “step in the right direction that reflects the political will to consolidate relations between their countries.”

The normalization of ties between Egypt and Syria will help restore stability and security in the region and rein in the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, he added.