Cairo hosts international conference on Gaza

International donors have pledged $5.4bn (£3.4bn) to help rebuild Gaza at a conference in Cairo, the BBC reports on Saturday.

The total, announced by the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Boerge Brende, exceeded the $4bn (£2.5bn) the Palestinian Authority had asked for.

Qatar promised $1bn (£622m).

At least 100,000 Gazans lost their homes in the 50-day conflict between Israel and Hamas, and much of the territory's infrastructure was damaged.

Earlier the Palestinian and Egyptian presidents called on Israel to commit to a long-term peace initiative.