Share

Deputy minister: Gaza war damage $4bn-$6bn

Ramallah - A month of fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip will cost the Palestinian territory at least $4bn-$6bn in damages, deputy economy minister Taysir Amro said on Tuesday.

Amro told AFP the figure included only "direct damages" to the Gaza economy and warned it could climb further once additional impacts on the 1.8 million population are taken into account.

A more precise assessment would be carried out once calm returns permanently to the overpopulated sliver of territory where more than 1 850 people were killed and nearly half a million displaced, he said.

Amro said international donors were expected to meet in Norway in September, but gave no further details.

A 72-hour truce, brokered by Egypt and the United States, came into effect at 08:00 on Tuesday as the last Israeli troops left the battered enclave.

The fighting began on 8 July and expanded into an Israeli ground offensive on 17 July.

Hundreds of homes were destroyed and last week the Gaza Strip's only power plant was shelled, imposing total blackouts.

The Palestinian territory, under blockade by Israel and Egypt, suffers from chronic water and power shortages.

Even before the latest fighting, Gaza suffered power cuts of eight to 12 hours a day, hampering hospitals, schools, businesses and water treatment centres.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 469 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 673 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.0%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.42
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.33
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.0%
Platinum
908.05
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE