Gaza devastated by Israeli onslaught

Parts of Gaza look as if they have been hit by a massive earthquake as Palestinians try to piece together the shattered fragments of their lives after three-weeks under Israeli assault.

Thousands of homes have been destroyed, the infrastructure is in tatters and bodies, inaccessible during the fighting, are being recovered pushing the death toll even higher. Palestinians are still trying to come to terms with the scale of the devastation. Israel claims it has allowed trucks into the Gaza Strip carrying humanitarian aid and the Red Cross says 10 ambulances loaded with medical supplies crossed at the Kerem Shalom border.

Mohammed Ishtayah, Director of Palestinian Council for Development and Construction says help is required urgently: “We need immediate money to accommodate the homeless people, one, and second important thing is: this money has to be fast. And third important issue: Israel has to lift the closure on Gaza.”

Arab governments, much criticised for their response to the plight of the Palestinians, are to discuss plans to set up a two billion euro package to help reconstruct the battered strip. Along with Arab governments Western donors are to send aid, but Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority are already bickering over who should control the reconstruction.More about: Ceasefire, Israel, Mideast

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