Better aid than money

The countries participating in the international conference for the reconstruction of Gaza, held in Cairo, pledged some $5.4 billion, a heartening figure, no doubt.

Qatar led the way, having donated $1 billion, with the European Union, the US, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates not far behind.

But even more important now is the international political will to ensure that there will be no other Israeli wars to destroy Palestinian lives and lands like the 50 days of devastating aggression in August that killed thousands, injured many more and literally levelled Gaza to the ground.

The math is simple: no need for the international community to spend huge amounts for reconstruction if the Israeli war machine is stopped.

Gaza was subjected to three bloody, destructive, wars by Israel during the past six years because Israel acts at whim, with impunity.

An infinitely more significant gesture major capitals could make would be to end, once and for all, Israel’s aggression.

Money may help rebuild Gaza, but how can the world “compensate” for the loss of innocent life?

Jordan has stood by the Palestinians at every turn, even more so when they faced the mighty Israeli war machine — in case of Gaza every few years.

Jordan’s military hospital has been offering care to the Gazans since 2009, often under daunting conditions.

The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation has also been lending most valuable humanitarian support to Gaza in terms of food, medicine and other much needed commodities.

The Kingdom has been standing by the Palestinians ever since tragedy struck them, consistently calling for a solution to their conflict with Israel based on two states living side by side.

Countries the world over have also been working, to various degrees, to the benefit of the Palestinians, but the real significant effort — of imposing permanent peace through the United Nations — has been sadly lacking.

Now, the Cairo conference pledged more aid to Gazans. Countries of good conscience pay for Israel to destroy.

This latest pledge, however, will not come to fruition unless Israel cooperates by not frustrating the flow of much-needed reconstruction material into Gaza.

The best gift, however, would be to grant the Palestinians the right to live in peace and security in their own state.