Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has announced on Thursday that they have reached an agreement with the United Nations (UN) and Israel and allow Palestine to import materials for reconstructing the Gaza Strip despite the cease-fire agreement with Hamas.

According to a news broadcast, a former minister and a UN representative already signed the agreement allowing construction materials to enter Gaza.

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The agreement also allowed Palestine to export possible materials abroad. With this agreement, the living burdens of the people will be lessened, adds Abbas.

The deal will be officially announced on Friday, says a UN diplomat. Details about the imports have not been discussed by Abbas such as the quantity of the materials as well as who will be controlling the overall process.

Since the conflict started between Israel and Hamas, the estimated number of destroyed infrastructures has reached more than 11,000 homes and 50,000 buildings.

According to Palestinian leaders, the reconstruction might cost more than US$7 billion and as a result, an international donor conference will be planned in October.

It is not clear yet if Hamas and Abbas' Fatah group agree regarding the import of materials. The importation should be able to meet the security demands of Israel in order to ensure that the materials will not be used for military purposes.

The announcement of Abbas came after an interview with one of the senior Hamas leaders, Mousa Abu Marzook, was boradcasted via the Al-Quds Television on Wednesday. Marzook highlighted the increasing tension between the Hamas and the Fatah potentially threatening the reconciliation between the two groups.

Meanwhile, despite the cease-fire, which has already been going on for more than two weeks now, the promise of Gaza to its residents of open border crossings has not been fulfilled yet causing the residents all the more frustrated.

TagsHamas, Fatah, Gaza, Gaza Strip, Israel, Palestine, Reconstruction