The Gaza reconstruction conference held in Cairo raised far more funds than anticipated, totalling $4.4 billion, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abdul Gheit. The total could even reach $5.2 billion if previous promised funding actualizes.
Initially, the Palestinian Authority requested approximately $2.7 billion, with about half towards Gaza and the remainder for PA programs, including amending a budget shortfall. Of the funds, the United States pledged $300 million for Gaza and $600 million to assist the PA, with international organizations administering the funds, not Hamas. However, State Department officials could not immediately provide a specific breakdown of the figures and which funds would support reconstruction or humanitarian aid.
Following the summit, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that she would work with any Israeli coalition government and that Israel should assist the Palestinians establish a successful sovereign state.
