The Donor Group for Palestine, promoted by the European Union, has managed to raise close to 900 million euros destined for the early recovery of the Gaza Strip. This was announced this Monday by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, coinciding with the celebration in Brussels of the second meeting of this international forum, in which 65 countries have participated.
"Moving to see the success of our second Donor Group for Palestine meeting today, with 65 participating countries and institutions. We have raised almost €900 million for early recovery in Gaza," announced the head of the EU executive in a social media post.
Of the total amount raised, 257 million euros come from a joint contribution proposed by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB), as specified by the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, at a press conference alongside the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohamed Mustafa.
These resources are integrated into the "Team Gaza" initiative, with which Brussels aims for the EU and partner countries to better coordinate and optimize both ongoing and planned funding for the initial phases of the Strip's recovery.
In addition to Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as Japan, have joined "Team Gaza". Australia, Ireland, and Canada will join shortly, Suica announced.
Essential Services and Priority Infrastructure
The Commissioner detailed that the program will allow for the financing of the rehabilitation of basic services and critical infrastructure in Gaza, in addition to strengthening local governance. She also pointed out that, during her recent visit to Israel, it was agreed to launch the first two early recovery projects in the areas of water and solid waste management, which will be executed by trusted partners on the ground.
Aside from this tool, the EU has released an additional 41.7 million euros through the Donor Group for Palestine since the first meeting of this forum, and has committed another 310 million euros for next year through the same mechanism, through which Brussels directly channels its financial support to the Palestinian Authority.
For his part, Mustafá has underlined that the Palestinian Authority has exceeded expectations in the implementation of its reform matrix, with 53 milestones achieved in four strategic pillars, despite "exceptionally difficult circumstances" arising from the withholding of funds by Israel.
The Palestinian prime minister has also called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the opening of all border crossings as an essential requirement to advance in the reconstruction of the Strip, and has reiterated his demand to reunify the administration of Gaza and the West Bank under unified Palestinian leadership.