The Palestinians hope to raise $2.8 billion at an international conference next month on repairing concrete damage to the Gaza Strip from Israel's offensive, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said on Wednesday.

Israel killed more than 1,300 Palestinians, a third of them children in the 22-day military aggression on Gaza and wounded 5,300 Palestinians, and Gaza infrastructure suffered massive damage totaling at least 2 billion dollars, according to Palestinian medics and officials.

Meanwhile the state could not pay salaries to workers in Gaza for many months beacuse of Israeli heavy blockade, preventing also cash into the enclave.

Fayyad said tabulations for the higher figure would be presented at a March 2meeting at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

"We have prepared a conclusive document which will include all that is needed in order to reconstruct and revitalize the Palestinian economy in the Gaza Strip," he told reporters.

"This document will be the basis for donors in order to pledge their monetary compensation and commitments."

But presenting a target figure to donors will be only the first step in a lengthy process before any new buildings and roads start to go up in the blockaded coastal enclave.

Gazans favour buildings of reinforced concrete. Cement and steel rods are on Israel's list of banned or restricted goods.

Israel launched on Dec. 27 a massive offensive in Gaza, killing more than 1300 Palestinians, a third of them children, and wounded at least 5300.

Israel targeted hospitals, schools, mosques and government buildings and destroyed infrastructure system in Gaza, lefting Palestinians without electricity, gas and power.

Reuters

Güncelleme Tarihi: 26 Şubat 2009, 10:10