(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Arab foreign ministers will visit Gaza "soon" in a show of support for Palestinians, the Arab League chief said as the 72-hour Gaza truce held through its second day and Israel said it was ready to extend the deal yesterday.
League Secretary-General Nabil Al Arabi said the ministers will assess reconstruction needs in the enclave after a nearly month-long war between Israel and Hamas. The team so far includes the foreign ministers of Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan and Morocco and Al Arabi.
The conflict is expected to cost the territory up to $6bn in damage, said Palestinian Deputy Economy Minister, Taysir Amro, in Ramallah.
A more precise assessment would be carried out once calm returns permanently to the Strip.
Meanwhile, senior Cairo-based Hamas' political leadership member Moussa Abu Marzouk said on his Twitter feed that there was no agreement on the extension of the truce. He is not part of Hamas' inner circle but dealt directly with Egypt during talks it led to broker the ceasefire.
Egyptian officials said talks were still under way as Israel sent a delegation back to Cairo.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon warned that the UN is ready to help rebuild Gaza but for the last time.
He opened a special meeting of the UN General Assembly with an appeal for a lasting peace as a 72-hour ceasefire.
"The senseless cycle of suffering in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in Israel, must end," he said.
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