Hamas Seeks $1 Billion Reconstruction Aid from Arab World

Terming the eight-day conflict with Israel a game changer, a top Hamas leader said the group will seek a $1 billion reconstruction aid from the Arab world and the international community to rebuild the war-torn Gaza Strip.

According to Hamas deputy foreign minister Ghazi Hamad, the Israeli aggression and the Palestinian retaliation have changed the power dynamics between Hamas and Israel. And the group, labelled a terrorist organization by the United States, the EU and Israel, will rebuild Gaza swiftly with its new-found identity and with the help of new international friends.

"More than 200 homes were damaged. Ninety percent of the security centers were destroyed. Three or four of the government buildings were destroyed. Many countries, Arab and non-Arab, and organizations have told us they are ready to help with the rebuilding," Hamad said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Meanwhile, Hamas government spokesman Taher al-Nunu said the total cost of damages caused by Israeli air assault is $1.245 billion. He breaks up the cost as $545 million from direct damage by Israeli airstrikes and nearly $700 million in indirect damages. He said the air offensive that killed 162 Palestinians, has completely destroyed 200 homes and 42 non-residential buildings including government complexes and nearly 800 partially.

According to the statistics from rights groups, 166 Gazans were killed in the Israeli air strikes, most of them civilians, and another 1,235 people were wounded. There were 43 children and 13 women among the dead. A total of six Israelis - four civilians and two soldiers - were killed in the rocket attacks from Gaza and 240 people were injured.

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