The impoverished Gaza Strip requires up to $485 million to fund immediate and short-term recovery needs following the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel, according to a new report from the World Bank, United Nations and European Union.
The trio’s Rapid Damage and Need Assessment was set up to estimate the losses incurred from the most serious round of Israeli-Palestinian fighting since the 2014 conflict. The 11 days of fighting left more than 260 dead in Gaza and 12 in Israel, according to officials on both sides.
“This is yet another unfortunate episode in which the Palestinian people in Gaza saw themselves in the midst of conflict and destruction,” said Kanthan Shankar, the World Bank’s director for the Palestinian territories. “With this assessment, we hope to mobilize donors’ support to help restore dignified living conditions and livelihoods in Gaza, and lead the way to recovery.”
Before an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire took effect May 20, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups fired more than 4,300 rockets toward Israel from Gaza. Militants in the besieged Palestinian enclave were targeted by over 1,500 Israeli strikes.
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