The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the World Bank on Tuesday signed a series of agreements mostly dedicated to rebuilding the Gaza Strip.

In total, the mutual cooperation and financial aid agreements worth US$33.5 million, 21.5 million of them will fund six projects aimed at rebuilding Gaza where Israel completed a military offensive in January.

The projects target emergency services in Gaza, such as upgrading the electricity network, developing water and sewage treatment stations, enhancing municipal services and funding the Gaza-based non-profit organization.

Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Premier who signed the deals in Ramallah, said the international community must meet its commitments to finance the PNA. The pledges were made during a meeting for the international donors in Egypt following the Gaza fighting.

"These commitments will enable the PNA to immediately carry out Gaza reconstruction program, especially in the fields of housing, agriculture and economy," Fayyad said.

He also urged Israel to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip to allow the entry of building materials.

During the three-week military operation, 2,700 houses in Gaza were completely destroyed and 3,700 sustained various types of damage, according to the UN figures.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2009)