Abu Dhabi - Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent Authority pledged Thursday to reconstruct the United Nation schools in Gaza bombed by Israel.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahayyan said that reconstruction includes the school run by the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees (UNWRA), the al-Fakhoura school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, north of Gaza City.

The school was shelled by Israel last Tuesday leaving at least 46 Palestinian civilians dead and 150 injured, mostly children.

Hamdan stressed the need for assistance for rehabilitation of vital utilities and services in the Gaza Strip, especially in health and education sectors, reported the Emirates News Agency.

The Strip has been under siege since the Islamist group Hamas violently took over the densely-populated enclave in June 2007 and ousted its rivals, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction.

"The Red Crescent Authority will coordinate with the UNRWA to arrange rebuilding the devastated schools," said Hamdan.

He also appealed to the UAE community, both individuals and organizations, to donate to the Palestinian people "through the nationwide Palestine aid telethon on Friday".

Throughout 13 days of fighting, there have been least 763 Palestinians reported dead and 3,120 injured in the Strip. (dpa)