As residents of Gaza continue to sift through the rubble, the focus now turns to reconstruction in the impoverished Palestinian enclave, as well as providing urgent relief to the thousands injured and made homeless by Israel’s bombing campaign against the militant group Hamas. Rebuilding bombed-out homes, schools and medical facilities, as well as repairing sanitation, water and electricity infrastructure, could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, Palestinian officials say.
A major sticking point for donors will be ensuring the much-needed assistance benefits civilians living in the besieged territory, not the militants. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar said his group won’t take “a single penny,” but Israel says Gaza’s rulers have a track record of diverting aid to fund their military operations.
