Norway and Egypt are planning to co-host a donor conference in Cairo for the reconstruction of Gaza, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said on Monday.

"Invitations to the conference, to be held in Cairo, will be sent out as soon as there is agreement on a long-term truce at ongoing talks in Cairo," Brende said.

The funds, he added, would be sent to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' government - "it is his unity government of technocrats that must handle the reconstruction." While Abbas' government is technically is in charge of the West Bank, the militant Hamas has been in charge of the Gaza Strip for the past eight years.

Brende also called for an end to the blockade of goods to the region:

"The population in Gaza is suffering, and there is need for urgent assistance," Brende said, noting that basic electrical and sanitation infrastructure was in urgent need of reconstruction. "The donors want to send a clear signal that basic conditions in Gaza have to change," he added.

Meanwhile, according to figures released by the Palestinian Health Ministry, the death toll rose to over 2,000 on Monday. In over a month of fighting, a total of 2,016 people have been killed and more than 10,000 injured. Among the dead are 541 children, 250 women and 95 elderly men - around 44 percent of the victims.

The residents of the area are enjoying the eight day of calm after two back-to-back cease fire agreements have been implemented, the latest of which is due to expire tonight. This means Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Cairo have half a day to reach an agreement or decide on another ceasefire. The aim of these talks is to broker a long-term solution to stop the recent bout of bloodshed, which began on July 8. So far, however, observers are not hopeful a deal will be reached on Monday.

Also on Monday, Israel ordered the demolition of the homes of two people with suspected involvement in the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers whose deaths sparked the war July 8.

The Associated Press news agency said there were 250 policemen and dozens of soldiers at the scene as troops demolished the homes. Minor clashes were reported during the demolition, with Palestinian youths hurling rocks and stones at armored Israeli vehicles.

sb/nm (dpa, AP, AFP)