Qatar announces $500 million for Gaza reconstruction

Qatar announced on Wednesday that it would provide $500 million for Gaza's reconstruction, after the besieged Palestinian enclave was battered by deadly air strikes in an 11-day Israeli assault.

"The state of Qatar announces $500 million in support for the reconstruction of Gaza," Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani tweeted.

The funds aim to help Gazans "face the life challenges posed by the recent Israeli attacks, and to contribute to the reconstruction of service facilities in Gaza... in addition to the homes that were destroyed", the official QNA news agency said.

Hamas launched rockets at Israel on May 10 after Israeli security forces attacked Palestinian worshippers at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, injuring hundreds.

Israel then launched air and artillery strikes on Gaza, killing 254 Palestinians, including 66 children, and wounding more than 1,900 people according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Twelve people in Israel, including three foreign nationals and a child were killed by Palestinian rockets, while 357 were injured.

Diplomatic efforts are underway to solidify a fragile Egypt-brokered truce that halted the fighting, with plans to rebuild the Gaza Strip, where Israeli air strikes damaged infrastructure and levelled buildings.

Cairo last week also pledged $500 million towards reconstruction in the Palestinian enclave, which has been under Israeli siege for nearly 15 years.