"Hamas bears full responsibility for the destruction in the Gaza Strip and the harm to innocents. Therefore, Hamas must not be allowed to lead the reconstruction process and receive any kind of legitimacy from this," Ehud Olmert told visiting Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
Israel controls border crossings into Gaza, and humanitarian aid cannot reach the enclave without Tel Aviv's consent.
Israeli forces launched an attack on Gaza on December 27, targeting Hamas infrastructure in a bid to put an end to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants on Israeli border towns. The military operation left over 1,300 Palestinians dead, the majority of them civilians. Up to 50,000 people have been left homeless in the enclave. The Israeli attack is estimated to have caused nearly $2 billion worth of damage.
"Israel believes that international organizations need to take charge of [the reconstruction], in cooperation with the United Nations, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority," Olmert was quoted by his press service as saying.
During an Arab League economic summit on Monday, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah announced that the oil-rich state would contribute $1 billion to the reconstruction of Gaza. During the same summit, Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah pledged an additional $34 million.
The radical Islamic movement Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since June 2007, when it seized control of the enclave of 1.5 million after clashes with the pro-presidential group Fatah.
Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire at 2 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Sunday, saying it had achieved all its objectives. Several hours after Israel's announcement, Hamas also declared an immediate ceasefire, adding that it was giving Israel a week to withdraw its troops.
