Palestinian delegation to discuss reconstruction mechanisms in Cairo

CAIRO – 2 June 2021: A Palestinian ministerial delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Zeyad Abou Amr met with Egyptian Chief of General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamel in Gaza Strip to examine reconstruction and will hold further talks in Cairo over mechanisms, and vision.

Palestinian Minister of Social Development Ahmed al-Magdalani made the statement Tuesday in a phone-in as the Egyptian delegation headed by Kamel concluded its visit to Gaza after conferring over stabilizing the ceasefire and embarking on reconstruction.

The Palestinian minister added that since the ceasefire began on May 21, the National Committee for Reconstruction has been determining the damages incurred by the Israeli aggression against Gaza Strip. He noted that the damage is not exclusive to buildings but extends to infrastructure and agriculture either.

Magdalani said that the committee will set priorities and present them in Cairo deliberations. For instance, sectors such as water supply, electricity, and roads will be rehabilitated first.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi directed Tuesday rapidly sending equipment necessary for reconstruction in Gaza Strip.

This comes in response to the request of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen], and based on the outcomes of Head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service (GIS), Abbas Kamel meeting with the ministers of the Palestinian Authority.

Ministers from the Palestinian Authority are scheduled to arrive in Cairo next week to coordinate the reconstruction process per directives of President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas also directed the ministers to fully cooperate with Egypt to implement Sisi's initiative to reconstruct the Strip.

Earlier on Monday, Sisi said Egypt exerts great efforts to stabilize the ceasefire and open the door for the political process in cooperation with the international powers, topped by the US, calling on all regional and international powers to support Egypt's reconstruction efforts.

Head of Egypt’s GIS Abbas Kamel conveyed president Sisi's messages during his visit to the Palestinian and Israeli lands.

His visit aims to solidify the Egypt-brokered ceasefire that stopped Israeli hostilities against the Gaza Strip. These hostilities caused the death of 254 Palestinians and destroyed dozens of homes.

Starting his visit on Sunday, Kamel met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

On Monday, he inspected the proposed sites to begin the reconstruction initiative of Gaza strip and met with a number of leaders from Hamas.

The reconstruction initiative was launched by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in mid-May as he announced allocating $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza Strip.

Sisi’s messages during the visit were, “stressing the need to unify Palestine’s internal front under the umbrella of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, calling all regional and international powers to support Egypt’s efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip.

Sisi also assured that Egypt is exerting huge efforts to maintain truce reached between Palestine and Israel, and to pave the way for the return of the peace process in cooperation with international powers led by the US. He stressed the importance of delivering all humanitarian aid to the citizens of Gaza Strip. The Egyptian President also signaled importance of ending the Palestinian division.

Egypt also sent 56 humanitarian aid-laden trucks to Gaza residents as gift from Sisi and Egyptian people.