NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE GAZA RECONSTRUCTION

Gaza City, 7 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/29 December 2014 (MINA) – Senior Hamas leader Mousa Abu-Marzouk said on Sunday that Palestinian factions are planning to hold a national conference and to form a national committee to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

“This committee is to put pressure on the unity government in order to immediately take over its position in Gaza, lift the siege and start reconstruction,” Anadolu Agency reported Abu-Marzouk as saying. Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Monday.

The Hamas leader has also called for the head of the unity government, Rami Hamadallah, to visit the Strip, noting that such visit would be a “positive” step towards ending internal division and commencing post-war reconstruction.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Saleem al-Saqqa has said that eight cabinet ministers would arrive in Gaza on Monday through the Beit Hanoun (Eretz) Crossing.

“Eight ministers, heads of power authority and environment authority, general managers from different ministries and bodyguards will come to Gaza and take over their positions and follow up the workflow,” Al-Saqqa said. He said he expected Hamadallah to visit Gaza next week.

A Palestinian Authority committee headed by Nazmi Muhanna was planned to take control of the Gaza crossings on Monday.

However, Muhanna told local Palestinian newspaper Al-Resalah on Sunday that his committee would not enter the Strip as long as Hamas officers continue to control the crossings.

Abu-Marzouk condemned these remarks and said that Hamas is ready to leave whenever the PA is ready to takeover.

He also said that Hamas is able to run the Gaza Strip crossings if the PA does not wish to run them. (T/P002/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)