‘Political reasons’ for delay in Kuwaiti funding of Gaza reconstruction

The owners of around 2,000 housing units in the Gaza Strip have been waiting for three months to receive payments from a Kuwaiti donation for the reconstruction of their homes. Many now fear that the payments will be cancelled.

Kuwait pledged to pay $75 million towards the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after it had been destroyed during the 51-day Israeli offensive in 2014. The Palestinian housing and works ministry nominated the beneficiaries for this donation in November; homeowners were told to prepare themselves to begin the reconstruction. Some have already started building their houses in the belief that the payments would be made without delay.

However, no one has so far received any money. Housing and Works Minister Mofeed Al-Hasayneh promised beneficiaries that they would receive their money before the end of this month, although several ministry officials have made similar pledges over the past three months; none were fulfilled.

According to the ministry, the delay is due to the absence of Kuwaiti representation in Gaza. The homeowners, however, believe that political reasons are more likely, as Kuwait does not maintain good relations with Hamas, which controls Gaza, due to its political affiliation to the Muslim Brotherhood. This, claim the proposed beneficiaries, is why payments have not been made.

Qatar has funded the reconstruction of hundreds of the houses destroyed by the Israelis. It monitors the reconstruction process through an official representative office in Gaza.