UNRWA Begins Reconstruction in Gaza After Israeli Aggression

Houses destroyed in Gaza Strip after the Israeli aggression (File photo: Reuters)
Houses destroyed in Gaza Strip after the Israeli aggression (File photo: Reuters)
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UNRWA Begins Reconstruction in Gaza After Israeli Aggression

Houses destroyed in Gaza Strip after the Israeli aggression (File photo: Reuters)
Houses destroyed in Gaza Strip after the Israeli aggression (File photo: Reuters)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will start rebuilding houses destroyed in the Gaza Strip and pay financial compensation to those affected by the latest Israeli aggression.

UNRWA media advisor Adnan Abu Hasna told local al-Aqsa Radio that over the past period, the UNRWA spent "rental allowance" for six months and will pay for four others.

Israel carried out 11-day aggression on Gaza, and it ended by declaring a ceasefire on May 21.

Abu Hasna also noted there had been no development so far regarding the issue of those affected by the 2014 war, which lasted 51 days and left massive destruction at the time.

The aggression caused severe destruction to 1,335 residential institutions, and moderate destruction to around 12,886 houses, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza.

UNRWA launched this operation in coordination with the Ministry of Works in Gaza, responsible for non-refugees and UNDP, and other UN institutions.

Egypt is working with a $500 million grant to build three housing complexes in the Gaza Strip, including the American School in the north of Gaza, the area of ​​​​the veterans in al-Karama, and al-Zahra.

Cairo supervised the first phase of the reconstruction process, which included removing the rubble, with the participation of Egyptian technical teams.

Qatar also provided a $500 million grant, Germany $9 million. Some donations were provided by international and local countries and institutions, estimated at nearly $20 million.

Officials in Gaza say the first stage of the reconstruction process is valued at $310 million, while the reconstruction and development stage is about $3.6 billion.

It is noteworthy that the total amount required for the reconstruction of the Strip, according to the National Plan for the Reconstruction of Gaza approved at the 2014 Cairo Conference, is about $3.9 billion.

Donors pledged nearly $5 billion, including $3.5 billion for the enclave's reconstruction. Still, the total amount received from pledges amounted to almost $900 million, representing 26 percent of the general pledges for the reconstruction process.



Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Have Received Explicit Israeli Threats

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)
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Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Have Received Explicit Israeli Threats

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated on Friday that Iraq has received explicit threats from Israel, adding that the country’s armed forces have been instructed by the prime minister to prevent any attacks originating from Iraqi territory.

According to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani directed the armed forces to take action against anyone launching attacks from the country. The foreign minister emphasized that Iraq does not seek war and aims to avoid its dangers, noting that the region is “on fire” and facing “clear threats from Israel.”

The agency also reported that the Iraqi government has requested an emergency meeting of the Arab League Council to address Israeli threats. Iraq’s permanent representative to the Arab League submitted a request for a session at the level of permanent representatives of member states to confront what was described as menaces from the “Zionist entity.”

Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that he had sent a message to the president of the UN Security Council urging immediate action against activities of Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Sa’ar asserted that the Iraqi government bears responsibility for any actions occurring within or emanating from its territory.

Meanwhile, Iraqi officials have expressed pessimism about the outcome of the ongoing war in the Middle East. Nevertheless, they emphasized Baghdad’s commitment to supporting efforts to achieve lasting peace and security.

Speaking at the American University Forum in Duhok on Friday, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani highlighted that the challenges facing Iraq have fundamentally changed since October 7.

He described the current situation in the Middle East as a “second Nakba”, stressing that the challenges stem from the failure of the international system, which he described as “ambiguous.”

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid stated that Iraq would play its role in promoting peace in the Middle East and expressed his full support for efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue in Türkiye.

Speaking at the Duhok Forum, Rashid said that Iraq and the region are facing circumstances that require all parties to closely monitor the situation and find appropriate solutions to ongoing problems, emphasizing the need for lasting peace and security.

Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, called for Iraq to remain neutral in the conflict, saying: “The crises in the region and the scenes of war in Lebanon and Gaza are tragic. We hope this suffering will come to an end.”

“We are all awaiting changes following the US presidential election. All indications suggest that a Trump administration will adopt a different approach compared to President Biden’s policies,” he added.

The Iraqi government has stated that under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with the United States, Washington is responsible for “deterring and responding to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.”

According to media reports, the US has informed Baghdad that Israeli military strikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless Baghdad prevents Iran-backed factions from launching attacks against Israel.