ZCZC
BFF-37
ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CONFLICT-GAZA-QATAR
Qatar injects more cash into Gaza for Hamas employees
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, Dec 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Employees of
the Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip began collecting their salaries
for a second month Friday, after Qatar pumped more cash into the territory
with Israel’s blessings.
It came despite a major flareup between Hamas and Israel that saw Avigdor
Lieberman resign as Israel’s defence minister after accusing Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu of being soft on the Islamist group.
Hundreds of employees of Hamas government departments waited in long queues
outside banks in the Gaza Strip from the early hours, AFP reporters said.
The Hamas-run finance ministry announced in a statement to local media that
the money would be distributed over the next two days, with employees
receiving 50 percent of their salaries.
Doaa, a 36-year-old employee at the women’s ministry in Gaza, said she
came early in the morning to receive her salary.
“This payment helps us to live our life and meet the needs of our children,
even if only a little.”
In Qatar’s operation, a total of $90 million is to be distributed in six
monthly instalments of $15 million, according to authorities, primarily to
cover salaries of officials working for Hamas.
A first tranche of $15 million was distributed in November, and the second
one was brought into Gaza late Thursday by Qatari ambassador Mohammed al-
Emadi, Hamas sources said. The Qatar envoy to Gaza also met Hamas leader
Ismail Haniya.
The Qatari cash injection is part of an unofficial truce between Hamas and
Israel, that was supposed to see an end to months of violent protests along
the Gaza-Israel border in exchange for an easing of Israel’s crippling
blockade of the coastal enclave.
But on November 11, Hamas and Israeli undercover troops had a bloody gun
battle following a botched Israeli raid in southern Gaza.
In the following days, Hamas fired hundreds of rockets at Israel in
response, with the Israeli army striking Hamas targets in Gaza.
A ceasefire two days later ended the violence, but Lieberman, who was
opposed to the Qatari money transfer, resigned.
Hamas has controlled Gaza since pushing out rival faction Fatah in a 2007
near civil war.
Fatah civil servants were then instructed not to work, so Hamas has hired
around 40,000 additional staff.
Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008.
BSS/AFP/RY/1830 hrs