Hamas has rejected a fresh tranche of Qatari funds, accusing Israel of imposing new conditions on the money entering the blockaded Palestinian territory.
The rejection of the expected $15m on Thursday raised fears of fresh tensions along the fence separating Israel from the besieged Gaza strip, ahead of weekly protests on Friday.
Senior #Hamas ?? official Khalil al-Haya said "we informed #Qatar ?? envoy of our refusal to receive the third transfer of funds in response to #Israel ?? behaviour, will not be subject to political blackmail for the sake of the Israeli elections" https://t.co/kmAhCe7Xcp https://t.co/dFDxYPxaG4
— SaadAbedine (@SaadAbedine) January 24, 2019
Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s deputy head in Gaza, told journalists on Thursday:
“We refuse to receive the third Qatari grant in response to the [Israeli] occupation’s behavior and attempts to evade the agreement.”
Al-Hayya did not mention the specific conditions that were changed but said Israel was playing politics with the funds ahead of upcoming elections.
He also twitted:
“Hamas rejects receiving the third Qatari humanitarian grant to protest against the Israeli political blackmail”.
Hamas rejects Qatar’s $$$ “to protest Israeli political blackmail” relating to electioneering. #IsraElex19 pic.twitter.com/tCZP6o0TR0
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) January 24, 2019
Under an informal agreement struck in November, Gulf state Qatar has sent $15m a month into the strip.
The payment would have been the third of six planned tranches, totaling $90 million, in connection with the truce.
The funds to pay salaries of Hamas employees and support impoverished residents of Gaza are in exchange for relative calm along the border, where protests have taken place since March 2018.
Khalil al-Hayyah: “ #Hamas rejects receiving the third installment of Qatari grant to protest against the Israeli political blackmail… The Palestinian people would never be subject to that blackmail by Israeli officials to promote electoral campaigns”. #Gaza #Qatar #Israel
— Hazem Balousha (@iHaZeMi) January 24, 2019
Israel’s permission is required since the cash must be delivered via its territory.
Mohammed al-Emadi, ambassador of the Gulf state to Gaza, met Hamas officials, including leader Ismail Haniya, in the enclave on Thursday.
Israeli media reported that the country’s security cabinet had approved the funds.
(AJE, PC, Social Media)
