On February 27^th 2009, Mr. Al Zaeem received Mr. Solana at the site of the destroyed American International School in Gaza, where he briefed him on the history and destruction of the school, as well as the general situation in Gaza. 

During a second meeting, after Mr. Solana toured northern and eastern parts of Gaza City, he and Mr. Al Zaeem thoroughly discussed the situation in Gaza from both a political and economic perspective, after which, Mr. Solana announced that the EU is going to pledge € 436,000,000 for the reconstruction of Gaza during the Sharm El Sheikh Summit on March 2^nd 2009.