CAIRO
Turkey will dedicate $200 million for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip until 2017 as part of international efforts to rebuild the embattled enclave devastated by a recent Israeli war.
"I am pleased to announce that Turkey will contribute an additional $200 million for the period of 2014-2017 for the reconstruction efforts in Gaza," Can Dizdar, the Turkish Foreign Ministry's Director-General for the Middle East and North Africa, told an international conference on Gaza reconstruction in Cairo Sunday.
Dizdar highlighted Turkish contributions to help alleviate the impact of the recent Israeli war on Gaza.
"Thirty-two million dollar has been collected in a nation-wide aid campaign," he recalled.
"This amount is being used for our humanitarian aid activities, including the provision of fuel, electricity generators and basic relief materials for the Palestinian people," asserted the Turkish diplomat.
He added that over additional $10 million has been spent from official resources for Gaza.
Turkey also has transferred dozens of Palestinians wounded during the Israeli offensive to Turkey for treatment.
"We are also working on new assistance projects such as supplying electricity to Gaza and building of prefabricated houses," said Dizdar.
The one-day conference aims to raise funds for rebuilding the embattled Gaza Strip following Israel's devastating 51-day onslaught on the coastal enclave.
About 30 foreign ministers and representatives of 20 regional and international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, are taking part in the conference.
For seven weeks in July and August, Israel pummeled the Gaza Strip with the stated aim of halting rocket fire from the Palestinian territory.
The offensive left around 2,160 Palestinians dead and some 11,000 others injured – the vast majority of them civilians – while destroying infrastructure across the coastal strip.
Israel also destroyed thousands of homes and facilities in the embattled Palestinian territory, creating tough humanitarian conditions for its 1.8 million residents.
Ever since Hamas – which Israel deems a "terrorist" organization – swept 2006 Palestinian legislative polls, Israel has imposed a land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Israel tightened the blockade further after Hamas wrested control of the enclave from the rival Fatah movement one year later.
Two states
The Turkish diplomat said that the situation in the Palestinian territories demonstrated the urgent need to find a political settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on two states living side by side in peace and security.
"Any negotiation should take place on an equal footing. Although the Israeli side has been enjoying its statehood since 1948, the Palestinians have been denied to such an inherent right," he noted. "This is unacceptable."
"Negotiations cannot take place while one party is unilaterally claiming and confiscating the land of the other party," insisted Dizdar. "Therefore, occupation in Palestine must end, settlement activities must stop."
The Turkish official also expressed his country's support for the Palestinian national unity government and welcomed a recent reconciliation deal between rivals Fatah and Hamas.
"Turkey will continue resolutely with its efforts in cooperation with its international partners towards finding a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Dizdar said.
"We remain committed to support the Palestinian people in their objective of living in peace, prosperity and dignity."
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