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"European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas said on Monday that over $71 billion would be needed to rebuild Gaza over the next decade, while rebutting accusations of 'double standards' compared to the bloc's extensive and vocal support for Kiev in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "Rebuilding Gaza is estimated to cost at least $71 billion," she said, adding the commission had been working with the World Bank and the United Nations for the past four months. Addressing the media after the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) on Palestine in Brussels, Kallas rejected a suggestion by a journalist that the EU was guilty of 'double standards' over Israel's attacks on Palestine. "Let me get this straight, Europe is the biggest supporter of the Palestinian people. Europe is the largest donor and the main backer of the Palestinian Authority," Kallas explained. "You will not find a stronger supporter of the Palestinian people in the world.” The reporter noted that while the EU is the main donor to Palestine, it has almost reached 20 sanctions packages against Russia in response to the Ukraine conflict, while the bloc has "a lot of difficulties to sanction a group, four to five settlers, not speaking about the extremist minister." Kallas responded: "We have 27 countries, and 26 countries want to put the violent settlers' sanctions in place. One doesn't," she added, in a thinly-veiled swipe at Hungary's former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Despite declaring support for the Palestinian people, Kallas also confirmed that the EU will not join the US-led Board of Peace, citing that the one proposed by the UN Security Council was more 'strict'. The European Union and the United Nations on Monday released the final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA). According to the assessment, Gaza will need $71.4 billion to aid recovery over the next decade, including $26.3 billion over the first eighteen months alone to restore essential services, rebuild critical infrastructure, and support near-term economic recovery. The assessment estimated the value of physical infrastructure damage at $35.2 billion, with economic and social losses amounting to $22.7 billion. The report further said that around 1.9 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, while more than 60% of the population has lost their homes."
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