Gaza will need $20 billion ‘Marshall plan’ for post-war reconstruction, U.N. trade official says
GENEVA — Gaza will need a new “Marshall Plan” to recover from the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a U.N. trade body official said today, adding that the damage from the conflict so far amounted to around $20 billion.
Speaking on the sidelines of a U.N. meeting in Geneva, Richard Kozul-Wright, a director at trade body UNCTAD, said the damage was already four times that endured in Gaza during the seven-week war in 2014.
“We are talking about around $20 billion if it stops now,” he said.
Kozul-Wright said the estimate was based on satellite images and other information and that a more precise estimate would require researchers to enter Gaza.
The reconstruction will require a new “Marshall Plan,” he said, referring to the U.S. plan for Europe’s economic recovery after World War Two.
UNCTAD already said in a report last month that it could take until the closing years of the century for Gaza’s economy to regain its pre-conflict size if hostilities in the Palestinian enclave were to cease immediately.
FBI Director Christopher Wray made surprise visit to Israel
FBI Director Christopher Wray met with Israeli law enforcement and intelligence partners during an unannounced visit to Tel Aviv yesterday, according to a readout from the bureau today.
The discussions focused on the FBI’s work to protect U.S. interests both domestically and abroad, particularly in regard to the collaboration with Israeli officials on threats posed by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Wray also expressed support for Israel in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
“The FBI’s partnership with our Israeli counterparts is longstanding, close, and robust, and I’m confident the closeness of our agencies contributed to our ability to move so quickly in response to these attacks, and to ensure our support is as seamless as possible,” Wray said.
U.N. aid chief warns of possible spillover of Gazans into Egypt
GENEVA — The United Nations aid chief warned today of the possibility of a spillover of Palestinians amassed in Rafah into Egypt if Israel launches a military operation against the border town.
More than 1 million Palestinians are crammed into Rafah at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt. Many are living in tent camps and makeshift shelters after fleeing Israeli bombardments elsewhere in Gaza.
“The possibility of a military operation in Rafah, with the possibility of the (border) crossing closing down, with the possibility of spillover … a sort of Egyptian nightmare … is one that is right before our eyes,” Martin Griffiths told diplomats at the United Nations in Geneva.
He said the notion that the people of Gaza could evacuate to a safe place was an “illusion.”
“We must all hope that friends of Israel and those who care about Israel’s security give them good counsel at this moment,” Griffiths said.
Families of hostages block road to call for continued negotiations with Hamas
TEL AVIV — Hostage families have blocked the road outside Israel’s defense ministry to call on Israel’s leadership to continue negotiations with Hamas for a deal.
Horns blared as the families and supporters brought traffic to a halt outside the defense ministry, chanting “bring them home now,” “Biden do your job,” and “Bibi do your job!”
Eventually, they began to let vehicles pass, but continued to block several lanes.
Some vehicles appeared to honk in support of the demonstration. It comes amid mounting frustrations after talks in Cairo failed to delivered a deal for a cease-fire and to see hostages released.
Released hostage and families of those who remain held protest over lack of deal
TEL AVIV — A woman who released from Hamas’ captivity and the families of those who remain held in Gaza gathered here tonight to protest after negotiations in Cairo failed to produce a new cease-fire and hostage deal.
Speaking at a news conference outside the Intelligence Heritage Center, Moran Stela Yanai, who was released by Hamas after 54 days in captivity, said she was freed “at the last moment before losing hope.” She said “now is the time to act” to see other hostages freed as she accused Israeli leadership of failing to do enough to produce a deal in recent negotiations in Cairo.
“We call on the prime minister of…
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