NGOs sectors representatives, called, on Thursday, to develop an integrated vision for the Gaza Strip reconstruction process with the participation of the Palestinian women; particularly the affected women, as well as the various society sectors.

In a workshop organized by the "women sector" of the Palestinian NGO's Network (PNGO), they called to intensify the efforts and develop mechanisms to pressure for lifting the Israeli occupation's blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for the 10^th consecutive year.

The workshop was held under the title, "Ensuring women sector participation in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip", within project " Proactive engagement of Civil Society in Gaza Construction process" , in partnership with the civil society program in GIZ and  Palestinian NGO's Network (PNGO).

The NGO sectors representatives called to allow the free movement of goods and individuals as well as the entry of the necessary reconstruction materials into the Gaza Strip and stop all forms of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

They demanded to form women's working group to lobby on the competent authorities to pave the way for the Palestinian women's inclusion in the decision-making positions, in order to develop plans and programs on the one hand, and encourage and support women participation in the discussion of the public policies that concern the Palestinian society; particularly the reconstruction process, on the other hand, as well as include women's needs within the reconstruction priorities.

Manal Awwad, representative of the Palestinian Association for Development & Reconstruction (PADR), stressed the need to activate the international solidarity movement to lift the Israeli occupation's blockade on the Gaza Strip, and activate all the efforts to achieve the national unity and women protection in the light of the continuous extreme violence exercised against them both by the society and the occupation.

She emphasized the significant need to reconsider the international mechanism for controlling the entry of construction materials into the Gaza strip; which according to her, legalized the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

She also stressed the need to pressure towards ending the internal division and achieving national reconciliation and unity of ministries and institutions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the need to develop a joint development plan to achieve integration between the two territories.

Adnan Abu Hasna, UNRWA media advisor, said ''The continuation of the blockade is devastating at all levels for all walks of life in the Gaza Strip; the largest densely populated area; where the houses of its population are destroyed by the Israeli military vehicles as soon as they have been rebuilt. This situation, in itself, impacts negatively on the psyche of women and children as well as all the Palestinian society."
Abu Hasna noted and referred  to official statistics made by international bodies, the number of houses that were damaged amounted to 147 thousand  of which 70 thousand suffered partial damage, and 5 thousand were severely damaged.
He went on saying, ''only 9.800 partially damaged houses were reconstructed, whereas regarding to the reconstruction funds, only $ 250 million were received by the UNRWA out of the promised $ 1 billion whereas the amount pledged in the Cairo Conference was $ 724 million."

Abu Hasna stressed the need to exploit the latent energy of the Palestinian women being superior to men in most (if not all) areas.

He also stressed the need to pressure the decision makers in the Palestinian government,

UNRWA and the donor states to work for changing the reality instead of regretting the lack of progress and the inability to change the bitter reality. You cannot change the reality without creating a state of anger and the persistent claim.

Maher Saqqa, representative of the National office for the reconstruction, said '' the main role of the office is to recruit the necessary reconstruction funds and control them and the way they are used, and control whether the organizations managing the reconstruction do their tasks at the fullest and with transparency and integrity or not.

He expressed extreme surprise over everyone's talk on the reconstruction of the stone, without paying attention to the need for the reconstruction of the affected by three consecutive wars humans, and the reconstruction of the sectors of education, health, agriculture, economy and the organizations of persons with special needs.

Saqqa pointed to the Palestinian women as the best and the best able to identify their needs, thus, women organizations in the Palestinian NGO's Network have to promote their reality and change it for better instead of relying on others who do what women can do themselves.

Abdul Rahman Assouli, representative of UN Women, stressed the need to hold in-depth discussions on the role of the civil society organizations in the face of the challenges surrounding the freedom of assembly.

He also stressed the role of these organizations abide by the rules of governance including transparency and participation.

Nadia Abu Nahla, coordinator of women's sector coordination in the Palestinian NGO's Network (PNGO), stressed the need to activate all the national and international efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip, including the role of UNRWA, and the need to prosecute of the Israeli Chief Military Prosecutor and re-open the war crimes files that have been closed.

Abu Nahia called upon the international community for an urgent intervention to lift the Israeli occupation's blockade and reconstruct the Gaza Strip as well as to protect the Palestinian civilians and hold the occupation accountable for its crimes.

She stressed the need to integrate women into all stages of reconstruction and include their needs in all aspects of the reconstruction process.

Abu Nahia called to adopt the overall concept of the reconstruction and not to confined it to the right to housing; despite its importance. She also called to announce reconstruction plans, their goals and the funds devoted for the reconstruction, as well as the timeframe for its implementation and the obstacles encountering them.

Abu Nahia stressed the need to consult with the women over the steps of the reconstruction, and the need to deal with the process from a holistic perspective.  She pointed to the need coordinate over gender mainstreaming among stakeholders, and the need to secure and provide the necessary materials and human resources.

Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO's Network (PNGO), said the conference and the provided fact sheets are an introduction to formulate a mechanism of action towards broader steps that would push for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Shawa called to restore the elements of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, pointing out that the reconstruction process must be a part of the multiple-track-comprehensive-vision that includes renovating and rebuilding of the Palestinian political system and renovating the distorted image of the Palestinian national struggle.