HAMAS TO SIGN BUILDING MATERIALS IMPORTATION AGREEMENT

      Cairo, 4 Rabiul Awwal 1434/16 January 2013 (MINA) – Hamas said it will sign a final protocol with the Egyptian government Thursday to import building material and other materials for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, according to Egypt Independent report received by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), Wednesday.

      Materials will be delivered to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, Hamas’s Minister of Public Works and Housing, Yousef al-Ghariz, said in a press statement.

     Signatories to the protocol include the state of Qatar, which is the prime donor for the reconstruction efforts, as well as the Egyptian Ministry of Housing and Urban Communities and the company providing materials,    Ghariz added, saying that the materials include light and heavy machinery, at prices less than those on the local Palestinian market.

Also Read: India and Pakistan Issue Conflicting Statements on Kashmir Ceasefire

     On 29 December, Egyptian authorities allowed Gaza to import the first batch of building materials, which were transported on 20 lorries.

     In October, the chairman of the Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, Mohamed al-Emadi, said all materials would be sent through Egypt rather than Israel, unlike other international reconstruction initiatives.

     Qatar has donated US$407 million for Gaza reconstruction. More than 20 reconstruction projects financed by the Gulf country began two weeks ago. (T/R-022/R-006)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

Also Read: Trump Says India and Pakistan Agree to Immediate Ceasefire