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March 3, 2009

Donors Pledge $5.2 Billion at Gaza Reconstruction Conference
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International donors pledged $5.2 billion Monday at a conference to
rebuild the devastated Gaza Strip, but not all of the money will go to
Gaza. The Obama administration offered up $900 million, but only $300
million is directed for humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza. The
rest of the money will go to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
Hamas spokesperson Mushir al-Masri criticized the international
community for not directing more of the money to rebuild Gaza.

Mushir al-Masri: "We would like to stress that the rebuilding of Gaza
should not be politicized, and this cause needs to be placed in its
correct context—the welfare and humanitarian one. What happened in this
conference was directing the rebuilding funds to the wrong people. But
we would like to stress that what is most important is opening the
crossings and ending the siege that has been placed on the Gaza Strip.”



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