Norway, Egypt to host Gaza donor conference

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The Norwegian foreign minister says Norway and Egypt are planning to co-host a donor conference in Cairo for the reconstruction of Gaza.

Boerge Brende on Monday said invitations will be sent out once there is an agreement in Egypt-mediated truce talks between Israel and Hamas.

Norway had earlier said it was planning to host such a conference in early September.

Brende said donor countries want Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “to be the recipient of the aid. It is his unity government of technocrats that must handle the reconstruction.”

The foreign minister also said conditions in blockaded Gaza must change, so that “both people and goods can cross the borders.”

Abbas aims to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza and reassert his authority in the territory, lost to Hamas in 2007.

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