Egyptian building equipment enters Gaza

Construction equipment entered Gaza Strip from Egypt Friday through Rafah Crossing on the border between Sinai and the Palestinian territory for reconstruction in the territory as per directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

The equipment will initially clear debris in various districts of Gaza in preparation for building, local media outlets said.

Large areas of the Gaza coast were ravaged by eleven days of Israeli shelling and airstrikes last month.

Israeli attacks were mostly on residential areas where huge numbers of residential buildings were reduced to rubble, leaving hundreds of Gazans, including women and children, dead and injured.

Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Gazan factions and Israel on May 21. A few days earlier, President Sisi pledged $500 million for reconstruction in Gaza.

The Egyptian move encouraged other countries to follow suit. Qatar pledged an additional $500 million.

Egyptian companies will be responsible for executing Egypt’s share of Gaza’s reconstruction, as per President Sisi’s initiative.

Egyptian construction companies have impressive track records in Egypt and abroad as some firms are undertaking major projects in other Arab countries and others enjoy a reputation in Africa for work hydroelectric dams, roads and residential compounds.

Egypt is also working hard to revive Palestinian-Israeli peace talks to ensure that a flare-up of violence between the Palestinians and the Israelis will not happen again.

President Sisi has invited Palestinian factions for talks in Cairo in order to unite the Palestinians ahead of kick-starting peace talks with Israel.

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel has visited Tel Aviv and Gaza in the buildup to the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi visited Cairo on May 30 for talks with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry — the first visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Cairo in 13 years.

President Sisi directives for sending construction equipment into Gaza on Tuesday came at the request of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.