Secretary of State Kerry Attends Gaza Donor’s Conference

More than 50 donor nations pledge over $5b in aid to rebuild portions of the Gaza Strip after Operation Protective Edge. Secretary of State Kerry announces that the US will contribute $118m towards the effort, with an additional $84m to be provided to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which aid Palestinian Refugees. The US offers another $100m to support the Palestinian Authority’s budget and institutional infrastructure. Qatar, a known supporter of Hamas, commits $1b, and the EU collectively $583m for reconstruction. By April 2015, unresolved Palestinian factionalism, severely depressed oil prices, and more pressing regional issues are causes for less than 5% of the funds to be actually delivered for Gaza’s reconstruction.