Rebuilding Gaza could cost $4 billion; reconstruction conference kicks off

The money doubles the amount already pledged, bringing the total U.S. contribution to $414 million. Kerry said that raising funds should not be the only goal of the conference. "I say clearly and with deep conviction here today, the United States remains fully and totally committed to returning to negotiations not just for the sake of it, but because the goal of this conference and the future of the region demand it," he said. Rebuilding Gaza after this year's conflict with Israel will cost $4 billion, says the Palestinian Authority, which is presenting a reconstruction plan Sunday. The governments of Egypt and Norway are hosting the conference in Cairo to help raise the funds needed, according to Egypt's Foreign Affairs Ministry. Israel launched Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in July, saying the military operation was aimed at stopping Hamas rocket attacks and destroying a network of tunnels that extended under the border. More than 2,130 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed in Gaza during the 50 days of fighting that followed. The United Nations estimates that more than 70% were civilians, but Israel reports a higher number of militants among the dead. Sixty-eight people were killed on the Israeli side, two of whom were civilians. Many homes, schools and other buildings in Gaza were destroyed or damaged before a ceasefire was reached in late August, CNN informs. The United Nations estimates that 60,000 Gazans were still living in shelters in late September. Read: Israel, Hamas agree to open-ended truce Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa will be joined at Sunday's meeting in Cairo by some of the world's most powerful diplomats. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the foreign ministers of Japan, France and Italy are among others attending the conference. They will speak about the challenges of rebuilding and how to approach the international response. Multiple global aid organizations are also participating.