Meanwhile, Mideast Envoy and former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, arrived in Gaza on Sunday to discuss reconstruction efforts.

It is Blair's first visit to Gaza since he was appointed to represent the Mideast peacemaking "quartet" of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations in 2007.

In Beit Lahiya, Blair met with education officials at a damaged United Nations school.

Blair said it was important to make sure that money was pledged towards reconstruction of Gaza, and it was also crucial to work towards a lasting peace in the area.

"It is our task to try and make sure now with the conference in Sharm el Sheikh we pledge the money for reconstruction but also outside of that conference that we work for a basis of lasting peace where such destruction does not happen again."

Blair's visit comes a day before an international conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik, where top diplomats from around the world will convene to discuss the strip's reconstruction, with the Palestinians seeking 2.8 billion US dollars in aid.