KUWAIT/GAZA: A conference of international donors in Kuwait on Sunday pledged over $2 billion to aid the devastated Gaza Strip over seven months into the Zionist war in the besieged Palestinian territory. The conference, organized by the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) and the UN’s humanitarian coordination agency OCHA, said the funds would be dispersed over two years, with the possibility of extension, in efforts to support life-saving humanitarian interventions in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had urged an immediate halt to the Zionist-Hamas war in Gaza, the return of captives and a “surge” in humanitarian aid to the besieged territory, in remarks played at the opening of the conference. “But a ceasefire will only be the start,” Guterres said. “It will be a long road back from the devastation and trauma of this war.” Zionist strikes continued in Gaza on Sunday, where the health ministry said the death toll in the war had exceeded 35,000 people.

HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Guterres on Sunday at Bayan Palace. During the meeting, HH the Amir welcomed the UN Chief in Kuwait, thanking him for his support and cooperation. HH the Amir presented Guterres with the Order of Kuwait - Riband of the Special Class for his political efforts and significant services. HH the Amir also assured Guterres that Kuwait would always support humanitarian work. “Kuwait is a symbol of humanity, wisdom and generosity,” Guterres said, thanking HH the Amir for the special order.

“I would like to receive it on behalf of the United Nations, and in particular, on behalf of the nearly 200 members of the UN who were killed in Gaza. I would like to express my deep gratitude for Kuwait’s enduring commitment to peace,” he added. “I will never forget when I was UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and I was desperate at not being able to find support for Syrian refugees at that time. His Highness the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was the one who organized three international conferences to support Syrian refugees, and Kuwait made the largest donation,” said Guterres.

Guterres stressed he will always remember that Kuwait was always the mediator when any issues happened within the GCC. During the meeting, the two also discussed the exemplary relations between Kuwait and the UN, mechanisms promoting further cooperation as well as efforts supporting international peace and security and coordination to achieve development and humanitarian initiatives. HH the Amir and the UN top official examined the latest updates on the situation in Gaza and the necessity to intensify efforts towards an immediate ceasefire, as well as regional and international developments.

Correspondents, witnesses and medics said Zionist air strikes pounded parts of northern, central and southern Gaza during the night and into Sunday morning. In Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city which sits on the border with Egypt, the Kuwaiti Hospital said Sunday it had received the bodies of 18 martyrs killed in Zionist strikes over the past 24 hours. The health ministry in the territory said that at least 63 people had been killed over the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll from the Zionist entity’s bombardment and offensive in Gaza to at least 35,034 people, mostly women and children. — Agencies