The United Nations should undertake the reconstruction of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said on Saturday.

"The reconstruction process of Gaza Strip should go through the UN," Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian peace negotiator, told reporters in Ramallah.

"So far, there is no justification of Israel blocking the UN from starting the reconstruction process in Gaza," Erekat said after he met UN Secretary General's envoy Robert Serry.

"President Mahmoud Abbas' priority is to immediately start reconstruction in Gaza," said Erekat, urging the UN to increase the budget of its relief operations in the Palestinian territories.

In January, Israel ended a 22-day military offensive in Gaza, killing more than 1,400 Palestinians and demolishing thousands of houses, factories and government-run facilities.

In March, international donors met in Egypt and pledged US$5.2 billion to rebuild the coastal strip.

But since the territory is ruled by Hamas, which the US and the West have classified as a terrorist group, transferring the money to Gaza was hindered.

Israel also has maintained a closure on the territory since Hamas took over security installations in Gaza in 2007, preventing construction materials from entering Gaza in addition to a wide list of other goods.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2009)