Hamas pays compensation for owners of destroyed houses

Source: Xinhua | 02-02-2009 07:57

GAZA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement which rules the Gaza Strip on Sunday paid financial compensation to dozens of owners of destroyed or badly damaged houses during a 22-day Israeli military assault that ended on Jan. 18.

Hamas organized a rally near al-Sallam mosque in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip and gave 4,000 Euros in cash to each family that has its house completely destroyed.

Abdelatif al-Qanou'a, Hamas spokesman in northern Gaza Strip, told reporters that his movement had already started its gradual compensation to the Gaza Strip families, adding that later on 2,000 Euros would be paid to each family that has its house badly damaged.

He said that the northern Gaza Strip has 1,885 houses destroyed and some 2,200 houses badly damaged, with some 5,000 more lightly damaged.

The Hamas-run ministry of work and housing had earlier estimated 5,000 houses were completely destroyed and 20,000 more were damaged all over the strip during the Israeli offensive.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run government would pay 1,000 Euros to each Palestinian killed and 500 Euros to the injured, its spokesman Taher al-Noono said.

Official estimations said that around 1400 killed and 5500 wounded.

Al-Qanou'a said that evaluating the damages in the people's properties is done through teams that are circulated all over the Gaza Strip who register and follow up all cases.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei