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Palestine's new government holds first cabinet meeting

PALESTINE’S new unity government held its first cabinet meeting in Gaza yesterday, three days before an international pledging conference in Cairo.

President Mahmoud Abbas will seek $4 billion (£2.47bn) there for Gaza reconstruction after the 50-day murderous summer onslaught waged by Israel that killed more than 2,100 people.

Hamas, which has previously held power in Gaza, has said that it would allow the ministers, who report to Mr Abbas, to operate freely.

Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and 16 ministers toured the town of Beit Hanoun and the Gaza City neighbourhood of Shijaiyah, both of which were badly damaged during the Israeli aggression.

“What we have seen today is horrible. I cried in Beit Hanoun when I saw how the people live and sleep. The priority is reconstruction and political unification,” said Mr Hamdallah.

The ministers visited former Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh in a reception area next to the debris of his home, destroyed by Israeli warplanes.

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