In Gaza, food doesn’t taste different, no matter who brings it

The Palestinian Statistical Authority estimates that there is $1.9 billion of damage due to Operation Cast Lead . This includes the price of the destroyed infrastructure, the cost of clearing away the debris, as well as the cost to the ongoing economic activity in the strip.

4,100 homes, 25 schools and hospitals, two bridges, 1500 factories and shops, 20 ambulances and numerous government offices and buildings were destroyed. 10 water and sewage arteries and 10 electricity-generating stations were also destroyed. Around 50km of paved roads need rebuilding. The estimate does not take into account the damage to streets inside Gaza neighbourhoods. 80% of all agricultural properties have also been destroyed. This includes all buildings upon the land as well as crops that had been planted .

Even if one can stomach these figures, it must also be taken into account that assessments believe that it will take a year for the economy of Gaza to recover to its 2007 level . This level was incredibly low due to Israel’s siege of the strip. So in reality it will take even longer for Gaza to function properly, never mind economically.

So who will lead the reconstruction? Hamas is insistent that they are the only ones well placed to do such a job. After all they are the democratically elected leaders of Gaza. Ahmed al-Kurd, the Hamas-appointed minister of Social affairs said Hamas “will be the only body to oversee and supervise the rescue” .

However the international community, led by Israel, has its qualms about helping if Hamas are to be in charge. Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated that Israel “want to make sure that the rehabilitation of Gaza doesn’t turn into the rehabilitation of Hamas" .

So the rebuilding of Gaza has become more of a political issue than a humanitarian one. Politicians are fighting as to who should be allowed to be seen as the good guys in the eyes of the Palestinian people, greatly slowing the reconstruction process. “The reconstruction issue is becoming a bargaining issue for everybody," says Ghassan Khatib, a former member of the Palestinian Authority cabinet, "It symbolizes the results of the war" .

Hamas are not allowed to lead the reconstruction process as this would give them the basis to declare victory to the people of Gaza. However if one were to stop and ask those in need where they would like to receive help from, they would stare at you blankly. The people of Gaza simply want help. Food does not taste different if Hamas, Fatah, or any other organisation gives it to you.

Whilst the politicians continue to talk, aid slowly trickles in from a variety of different sources. Saudi Arabia has pledged $1billion to the rebuilding of Gaza, however it is unclear when and how this money will arrive. They have given $6.5million to UNRWA, The United Nations relief and works agency, but the rest of the money is still outstanding.

Many feel that right now UNRWA is the only way forward. "I don’t care who’s going to compensate me, but if they ask me, of course, I’d choose UNRWA because they’re the only ones who will distribute the aid fairly," says Ziad, a Gaza resident . Many in Gaza share his sentiment. So far UNRWA has received 5 million euros from Spain and $400,000 from Portugal apart from the money from Saudi Arabia.

However this money is small change when taken in context of the amount needed to rebuild Gaza. The problem yet again boils down to the politics. There is money to be given, but no one satisfactory to give it too. Many do not want to simply give money to UNRWA as they see this as an opportunity to force a reconciliation of sorts between Hamas and their rivals Fatah. "This is a way for Abbas to get back in control of the Gaza Strip," one Israeli defence official said. "If he is in charge of the money, Hamas will have to work with him and he will be involved in what happens in Gaza” .

Tony Blair, Envoy of the international Quartet of peace process in the Middle East, agreed stating “Repairing the relationship between Hamas and Fatah will be an intimate part of the Gaza reconstruction plan” .

Hamas are prepared to talk to Fatah, yet this will take time. Ahmed Yousef, the foreign-policy adviser of the Hamas government, says that Hamas is not opposed to working with Fatah. "Everyone should exert the utmost efforts to rebuild Gaza, every Arab and every Muslim," Dr. Yousef says. "Fatah is one of many Palestinian political factions. We are at odds with them now, but it doesn’t mean that they are our enemies."

In the mean time however, the people of Gaza will be left waiting. The only way for aid to be administered more quickly would be for the international community to recognise Hamas. However as this will not happen, the people will continue to be punished simply for voting for the wrong party. These people are used to being punished though, so this will come as nothing new.