For the first time since the 50-day Israel-Hamas conflict, construction supplies are being delivered to rebuild Gaza. Shipments of concrete and steel are moving following a donor conference in Egypt where countries pledged billions.

Israel’s seven week offensive in Gaza in July and August was the most destructive the region has seen. In Gaza, nearly 2,200 people were killed, most of them civilians. About 80,000 refugee homes were also damaged or destroyed. On the Israeli side, 71 people were killed, all but five were Israeli soldiers.

The international community pledged nearly $5.5 billion last weekend in Cairo, more than what was expected. This is the third time in six years that Gaza is in need of rebuilding. However, the international community is increasingly reluctant to continue giving aid when the threat of war still looms.

The United Nations, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel have come up with a plan to make reconstruction move quickly. Under the deal, the U.N. will monitor supplies to make sure they are not diverted to build tunnels for Hamas.

One of the central aims of the plan is to stimulate the economy in Gaza and put some of the 60 percent who are unemployed back to work. The U.N. hopes rebuilding Gaza will help establish a united government and trade between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

Critics point out that Israel still has a say over what happens in Gaza, and the Israeli blockade there is still in place.

CCTV America’s Nathan King reports.