The European Union and a coalition of international partners have unveiled a nearly $1 billion financial assistance package aimed at supporting the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following the Israeli genocidal aggression that left much of the enclave's infrastructure in ruins.

The reconstruction initiative was announced on Tuesday in Brussels during a meeting attended by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, European officials, and representatives of several donor countries and international financial institutions.

The funding will be directed toward clearing war debris, restoring essential public services, rebuilding water and sewage networks, improving healthcare facilities, and repairing critical infrastructure damaged during the conflict.

European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica acknowledged that the pledged amount represents only a fraction of Gaza's overall reconstruction needs.

"Considering that Gaza needs around $70 billion, we only have $1 billion today. But this demonstrates our support for the Palestinian people, both in the West Bank and in Gaza," Šuica said.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa welcomed the international commitment but emphasized that reconstruction efforts cannot succeed without addressing the underlying political and security realities on the ground.

He stressed that rebuilding Gaza remains an urgent priority, while warning that meaningful progress will remain limited unless Israeli forces withdraw from Palestinian territories.

"As long as Israel does not withdraw from the Palestinian territories, not much will happen. If this issue is not resolved, the problem will persist, and even if reconstruction funding is available, significant progress will not be achieved," Mustafa said.

The reconstruction package brings together contributions from several major international partners, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, alongside financial institutions such as the World Bank and the European Investment Bank.

The initiative is intended to lay the groundwork for Gaza's long-term recovery after months of conflict caused extensive destruction to homes, hospitals, schools, roads, and essential public infrastructure.

Large parts of the Gaza Strip remain heavily damaged, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced and facing severe humanitarian challenges. International organizations have repeatedly warned that the scale of destruction requires sustained global support and long-term investment to restore basic services and revive the enclave's economy.

While the newly announced funding marks an important first step, officials acknowledged that significantly greater international financial commitments will be required to meet Gaza's estimated reconstruction costs and support the territory's long-term recovery. (ILKHA)