Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt  - High-level delegations from some 75 countries were to gather in Egypt on Monday to pledge billions of dollars of aid to the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked for roughly 2.8 billion dollars in aid to pay for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after Israel's 22-day offensive in late December and January.

More than 1,300 Palestinians were killed in that offensive, and thousands of homes and government buildings were demolished.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday was scheduled to make her first appearance as secretary of state at a conference of this scale.

On Saturday, she told reporters the United States would make "a commitment to a significant aid package." Press reports have put the figure at 300 million US dollars for the Gaza Strip and an additional 600 million to the Palestinian National Authority.

At an Arab summit in January, Saudi Arabia pledged 1 billion dollars in aid to Gaza.

Germany will reportedly pledge 100 million euros (126 million dollars), in addition to its contribution to the European Union's aid package.

Donors have balked at disbursing aid to Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. Late on Thursday, leaders of Hamas and Abbas' rival Fatah faction agreed to form a "national unity" government and to hold fresh elections soon.

Speaking to reporters in Cairo on Thursday night, deputy Hamas politburo chief Moussa Abu Marzouq said that political issues should not interfere with the reconstruction effort. (dpa)