Palestinian Economy Chief Tasked with Gaza Rebuilding Quits
The Palestinian official tasked with the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following a devastating 50-day war with Israel has resigned, following criticism of the pace of work.
Economy Minister Mohammed Mustafa, who is also deputy prime minister for the national unity government between Islamist Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement, did not give a reason for his resignation.
Mustafa headed a committee responsible for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following the Hamas-Israel war in July and August that killed 2,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and left thousands homeless.
The war left 73 dead on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers.
Mustafa faced a torrent of criticism in recent months for the slow pace of reconstruction in Gaza.
He repeatedly denounced international donors for failing to deliver a pledged $5 billion (4.6 billion euro) for reconstruction efforts, with only a few hundred million dollars reaching the Palestinians.
02 April 2015, 06:07
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"with only a few hundred million dollars reaching the Palestinians."
And where exactly did that money go?
The cost of (re)building a house in Gaza can not be more than $100,000, so even $200 million would have rebuilt 2,000 houses. Where are they?
Or did the money go to buy cement for more Hamas tunnels?
