Israel intends to exert control over the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following its 22-day offensive, and is seeking guarantees that no UN projects will benefit Hamas, officials said on Monday. Israel, which declared a unilateral ceasefire on Sunday, retains full control over Gaza's commercial crossings, through which goods and other materials for rebuilding must pass. Smuggler tunnels under Gaza's border with Egypt, which were used by Hamas and many ordinary Palestinians to get around the Israeli-led blockade, were heavily bombed during the war and are, at least temporarily, out of commission. That gives Israel enormous power to shape the recovery effort, which will be largely financed by the international community. Preliminary estimates put the damage at nearly $2 billion. Saudi Arabia said it would donate $1 billion. Western diplomats, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Israel has asked the United Nations and other aid groups to provide a detailed list of goods, equipment and personnel that they want to bring into the Gaza Strip, both to meet immediate needs and for rebuilding. Israel told the aid groups it would consider expanding the list of materials authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. Before the war, Israel blocked entry of most cement, steel and cash, saying Hamas used them for bunkers, rockets and militia salaries. But Israel made clear it intended to manage the process closely by requiring project-by-project approval, the diplomats said. It has also asked for “guarantees” from the UN and other agencies that their projects will not benefit Hamas, an Islamist group viewed as terrorist by Israel and the West. An Israeli official said UN agencies would be required to monitor “each and every dollar they spend” to make sure it goes directly to the local contractors doing the work. The message, he said, was “don't allow Hamas to take credit for anything”. UN officials declined to comment on Israel's request. As a policy, the world body does not talk directly to Hamas except at the working level to facilitate its aid activities in Gaza. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon planned to visit Gaza and Israel the same day, officials said. He would be the first world figure to visit Gaza since fighting ended on Sunday. Foreign ministers from the European Union and Israel have been invited to talks in Brussels Wednesday to try to bolster the ceasefire in Gaza, the EU's Czech presidency announced. “On Wednesday Jan. 21, the presidency will organize a dinner for the EU 27 (nations) plus Israel,” said a statement on Monday, adding that European ministers would also hold talks with other regional players on Sunday. “On Sunday January 25, it will host a dinner for the EU 27 plus Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and the Palestinian National Authority. Both meetings will take place at the level of ministers of foreign affairs,” the statement said. An EU diplomat said the talks were part of European efforts “to “consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza and to try to put the Middle East peace process back on the rails.” The timings and dates could shift depending on whether the ministers are available, the diplomat said, on condition of anonymity. Hamas militants announced a one-week ceasefire on Sunday after Israel called a unilateral halt to its massive offensive on Gaza, where at least 1,300 people have been killed since Israel launched Operation Cast Lead on December 27.
