Int´l donors pledge $4.5 bln for Gaza reconstruction

Chinese envoy to the Middle East Sun Bigan attends the international donors' conference to plan the reconstruction of the Palestinian Gaza Strip, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on March 2, 2009.  (Xinhua/Zhang Ning)

Solana also said the European Commission "insists in agreement with the president (Abbas) that the mechanism used to deploy the money is the one that represents the Palestinian (National) Authority," adding "I don't think there is a need for new mechanisms."

The European Commission announced last Friday that it will pledge 436 million euros (566 million dollars) in aid to the Palestinians at the international donors' conference.

Among other nations, Saudi Arabia has pledged 1 billion dollars for the Palestinians, while Qatar pledged 250 million dollars and Algeria 100 million dollars.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced on Sunday to donate nearly 1.65 billion dollars at Monday's conference to ease Gaza's humanitarian situation and help its social and economic reconstruction.