A convoy of 15 trucks carrying thousands of tons of construction materials donated by the Gulf state of Qatar were allowed into the Gaza Strip via Egypt's Rafah border crossing on Thursday.

An official at the terminal said the shipment comprised 13 trucks carrying 980 tons of cement and two trucks carrying 90 cubic meters of cement.

This came in coordination between Egypt and Qatar, which has pledged more than $400 million to finance reconstruction projects in Gaza and improve crumbling housing, schools, a hospital and roads.