A body established by US President Donald Trump to oversee the administration and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip has warned that it lacks the funds needed to proceed. The so-called 'Board of Peace' reported a significant gap between disbursed funds and the $17 billion pledged to the organization, according to media reports on Tuesday.

A May 15 report to the UN Security Council stated that 'funds committed but not yet disbursed represent the difference between a framework that exists on paper and one that delivers on the ground for the people of Gaza.' This underscores concerns about the board, viewed skeptically by critics as a means of bypassing traditional international organizations and aid groups that Israel opposes.

The cost of reconstructing Gaza, where large areas have been leveled during Israel's genocidal war, is estimated at $70 billion. The board's report noted that 85% of buildings and infrastructure have been destroyed and 70 million tons of rubble need clearance.

The board urged that funding gaps be closed 'with urgency' but did not specify the size of the gap. Countries including the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Morocco, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait have pledged funds, but many nations have declined to participate.

Israel has continued to restrict humanitarian access and carry out strikes, killing over 800 Palestinians since the October ceasefire. The board blamed Hamas for ceasefire shortcomings, while Hamas dismissed the report's claims as 'fallacies.'

Source: www.aljazeera.com