Gaza humanitarian situation disaster beyond imagination: Abbas
Iran Press TV
Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:8PM GMT
The President of Palestinian Unity government Mahmoud Abbas has described the humanitarian situation in the besieged Gaza strip as a disaster beyond imagination.
Abbas made the remarks on Tuesday hours after Palestinian groups and mediators confirmed that a truce has been reached between Israelis and Palestinians in Egypt to end hostilities between the two sides.
Abbas highlighted the need to help Gazans rebuild their houses and infrastructure devastated in weeks of Israeli ground attacks and aerial strikes.
He urged international donors to help Gazans with the reconstruction process, adding that the United Nations will send humanitarian aid to the impoverished Palestinian territory very soon.
Elsewhere, the Palestinian leader emphasized the need for Palestinian factions to move forward with their national reconciliation plans.
The president of the Palestinian unity government also referred to the role of Qatari and US officials in reaching the agreement. He said the talks held earlier with Hamas officials in Doha revolved around an end to the Israeli aggression against Gazans.
The Gaza truce, which took effect from 1600 GMT, has sparked huge celebrations in the Gaza Strip.
The ceasefire deal stipulates an end to the Israeli blockade as well as provision of a guarantee that Palestinian demands and needs will be met. The deal also says crossings between Gaza and Israel will open and the two sides will engage in direct talks.
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the truce marks a victory for the resistance. It says the deal shows the Palestinians have prevailed in the Israeli war. Hamas has also called for mass rallies in west bank to celebrate the victory.
Israel launched an aerial military campaign against Gaza in early July and later expanded its operation with a ground invasion.
More than 2,137 Palestinians, including around 570 children, were killed in the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. Some 11,000 others have been wounded. Most of the victims were civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
JR/HMV
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