0
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa (left) and Dubravka Šuica, the European Union Commissioner for the Mediterranean, greet each other ahead of the second Palestine donors' conference to discuss support for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, held at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on July 13 (local time). / Photo courtesy of AFP, Yonhap News

The European Union, alongside over a dozen European and Middle Eastern nations, announced on July 13 (local time) a plan to pursue a reconstruction initiative valued at 883.6 million euros (approximately 1.5 trillion won) to support the recovery of the war-torn Gaza Strip.

According to Reuters, the European Commission launched the "Gaza Support Initiative" during a Palestine donors' conference held in Brussels, Belgium, attended by multiple EU member states, Middle Eastern countries, international organizations, and financial institutions. The commission stated that the initiative will fund projects aimed at restoring local drinking water and sanitation facilities, clearing debris, and rebuilding the healthcare system.

"The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip remains precarious, and the situation for civilians has not improved," Dubravka Šuica, the European Union Commissioner for the Mediterranean, said at the event, as reported by the AP. She added, "The funds will be delivered through trusted partners."

However, the executive commission did not disclose specific financial details, such as how much each participating entity would contribute.

"Our goal is clear," Commissioner Šuica emphasized. "It is to help the Palestinian people build hope, resilience, and a better future."

The meeting drew high-profile attendees, including Nickolay Mladenov, Senior Representative of the International Peace Committee established by U.S. President Donald Trump to lead the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip; President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner; Ali Shaat, Chairman of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which was set up to manage day-to-day affairs in the enclave; and Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.

The Gaza war broke out after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, persisting for over two years.

Although a phase-one ceasefire was reached last October under U.S. mediation, further negotiations have stalled, and intermittent military clashes continue to fuel regional instability.

Most of the Palestinian territory, home to a population of over 2 million people, has been designated as a disaster area. Nearly all residents have been displaced, living in tents or damaged structures within the coastal region governed by Hamas.

The United Nations, the World Bank, and the EU have estimated the total cost of rebuilding the Gaza Strip at approximately 70 billion dollars (about 105 trillion won). The UN stated that more than 60 million tons of debris have accumulated in the Gaza Strip alone, an amount capable of filling roughly 3,000 container ships.

Debris clearance is projected to take over seven years, with additional time required for landmine detection and disposal operations.

                                                                                                            Kim Hyun-min