Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi speaks during an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem, February 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
CAIRO - 10 November 2018: Reuters reported that Qatar has granted “Palestinian civil servants in the Gaza Strip” $15 million cash funds describing the act as “offering Hamas a potential domestic reprieve.” However, it reported that Israel denied the money would go to the Islamist group.
Palestinian sources told Reuters that was the first batch of a $90 million donation, and that the rest will flow into Gaza over the upcoming six months by Israeli consent.
Since the cash delivery on Nov.8, Qatari representatives have been present in all 12 post offices across Gaza to observe salary payments to public employees, according to Reuters. The agency reported that Israel had previously approved Qatari donations in the form of fuel and construction materials.
While visiting the “The Return Camp” on the borders between Gaza and Israel on Nov.9, some Palestinian youths threw stones at Qatari envoy Mohamed el-Emadi causing damages to his car, as Russia Today reported. On the other hand, Reuters said that his bodyguards’ car window was smashed.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) criticized the act accusing Qatar of attempting to deepen the rift between Palestinian factions, according to EREM News.
The Qatari action comes amid reconciliation endeavors, which started last year upon an Egyptian initiative, for Palestinian powers to reunite, and put Gaza Strip under the control of the PA again. Hamas took over the territory in 2007 as it came to power by election, and ever since no ballots have taken place in Gaza.
The Times of Israel reported “a government source in Gaza” saying that Emadi drove the money through Israel in the evening of Nov.8. “This is capitulation to terrorism, and in effect Israel is buying short-term calm with money, while severely undermining long-term security,” Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Yediot Aharonot newspaper on the same day.
Israeli media reported in August that a secret meeting took place in Cyprus between Lieberman and the Qatari foreign minister in June.
CAIRO - 23 August 2018: Israeli Media reported on Tuesday that Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and Qatari Foreign Minister Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met secretly in Cyprus last June.
There has been ongoing protests in Gaza since March 30 marking the “Land Day.” Those have resulted in the killing of more than 220 Palestinians by Israeli forces.
CAIRO - 11 September 2018: Questions are raised upon the outcome of the United States decision to shutter the office of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington after accusing Palestinian leaders of not cooperating to accomplish peace with Israel.
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