BICOM

Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin yesterday said that the international community must help rehabilitate the Gaza Strip and expressed sympathy for Gaza residents.

On a tour of the north of the country, Rivlin commented on a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday evening which saw a mid-range rocket land near Ashdod. The attack is thought to have been the work of Islamic Jihad. Rivlin commented, “Hamas [which administers Gaza] is very concerned by [the rocket fire,] which was carried out by an organisation that is challenging it.” He added that “Hamas today wants to bring order to Gaza, though not because it is in our interest.” Nonetheless, he indicated that he did not object to talking with Hamas towards such an end, saying “I’m not opposed to talking with anyone who is willing to talk.”

Rivlin further commented, “There’s no doubt that our hearts are with the residents of Gaza,” due to the conditions they face following Operation Protective Edge last summer. However, he called on the world to help, saying “We and the whole world are unable to get to a situation in which Gaza can be rehabilitated. There needs to be an international initiative with Israel’s participation.”

During 2015, Israel has introduced a range of measures meant to ease movement in and out of the Gaza Strip, in order to aid reconstruction. The amount of water Israel supplies to Gaza was doubled after a coastal aquifer had become ineffective. Israel also increased the number of entry and exit permits to Gaza merchants and has also facilitated the export of significant Gaza produce to the West Bank, an important market for the Gaza economy.

However, reconstruction in Gaza since last summer’s conflict has been hampered by a paucity of promised international funds. Just a fraction of £3.2 billion pledged last year by international donors to aid Gaza’s recovery has materialised. Meanwhile, European diplomats have also criticised political squabbling between Fatah and Hamas for the lack of progress.