PM Davutoğlu speaks with Hamas leader on Gaza reconstruction projects
| Reuters


Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that Ankara has exclusive projects for the reconstruction of Gaza, which was damaged considerably in intense Israeli strikes in the summer of 2014. He made the comments during a phone conversation with Ismail Haniyeh, a senior political leader of Hamas.According to prime ministerial sources, Davutoğlu received information about the latest state of developments in Gaza from Haniyeh. Davutoğlu reportedly talked about putting in place special projects to reconstruct Gaza City, which was heavily destroyed after Israeli airstrikes last summer, which caused the deaths of thousands of Gazans as well as huge damage to the region. Turkish officials have been lending support to Palestinians and condemn what they call the unjust treatment of Palestinians by Israel. According to sources, Davutoğlu underlined the significance of a serious Palestinian consensus.Israel's 51-day war, which came to an end on Aug. 26, 2014, left 9,000 homes in Gaza in total ruin and 8,000 others partially damaged. As part of efforts to rebuild war-torn Gaza, the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) started the construction of 1,000 high-quality prefabricated homes and inaugurated water wells that will provide water to 800,000 residents following the cease-fire. The organization raised TL 75 million ($28.67 million) in its latest joint campaign with the Presidency of Religious Affairs to be used for support in healing the wounds of Gazans. Established in 1992, the government-run aid agency is mandated with implementing Turkey's development cooperation policies overseas.During Israel's most recent offensive, 15,671 housing units in the Gaza Strip were damaged, including 2,276 that were totally destroyed, according to official Palestinian figures. More than 2,160 Gazans were killed and some 11,000 injured during the seven weeks of unrelenting Israeli airstrikes in July and August. The Israeli offensive finally ended on Aug. 26 with an indefinite cease-fire agreement.