EU says donors are offering over a billion dollars to help rebild Gaza

The EU said Monday that European donors had put some US$1 billion ($1.44 billion) on the table to help initial recovery efforts in war-torn Gaza.

EU commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica announced the headline figure of "almost 900 million euros or one billion [US] dollars" at the start of a donor meeting in Brussels.

"We now need the conditions on the ground that will allow the support to reach the people in Gaza," Suica said.

The funds —- which officials said include money already pledged to help Gaza— would be used to clear debris left from Israel's devastating military offensive and rebuild basic services such as water and sanitation.

"The governments of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, together with the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, are participating," Brussels said.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

The EU said Suica had on a recent visit to Israel "reached agreement with the Israeli authorities on next steps for the implementation of two major projects in the areas of waste and water management in Gaza".

The commissioner said donors "want to start with so-called early recovery, and it is very important to show that we are willing to do it."

"But to do that, we need disarmament of Hamas in order to start proper recovery," she said.

The humanitarian needs of Gaza remain overwhelming.

The United Nations estimates reconstruction will take years and require tens of billions of dollars, as construction materials and debris-clearing equipment remain in critical short supply.

Representatives from US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, meant to help prepare for post-war Gaza, attended the Brussels meeting. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner also joined online.

"We are trying to have everybody on board," Suica said.

The meeting — which included Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa — was also evaluating reforms by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in light of further aid.

The EU is the biggest international donor to the Palestinians.

"We are aware of the great difficulties you face, so I want to recognise your effort," Suica told Mustafa.

"It is crucial that these reforms fully take hold."

The most politically sensitive reform concerns the PA's system of payments to Palestinian prisoners and to families of those killed in the conflict, often referred to as "martyrs" payments.

Mustafa said an external audit had been carried out and showed "very positive" results that payments were now being made "based on actual needs" in accordance with new legislation.

"So hopefully this will close this chapter," he said.

A ceasefire was reached in Gaza between Israel and Hamas in October following two years of war, which was sparked by the Palestinian militants' unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The second phase of the ceasefire, which was to involve Hamas's disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, has been stalled for months.

For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.