Gaza government refuses Dahlan-backed Emirati projects

The UAE recently offered to execute projects benefiting the people of Gaza by means of “mediators” from the Emirati government. However, Hamas’ Gaza government rejected the offer, a Hamas sources told London’s Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper.

The sources noted that the UAE offered to implement projects in Gaza under the sponsorship of former Fatah official, Mohammed Dahlan, who now lives in the UAE, but the government in Gaza firmly refused the offer. They did, however, welcome Emirati help if the dealings are directly with Ismail Haniyeh’s government.

Also, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in Gaza, Ziad Al-Zaza recently stressed that his government rejected a request from the UAE to fund projects in the Gaza Strip through mediators and have demanded that it is done directly.

While Al-Zaza did not reveal who the mediators would be, he did explain that based on this, a committee of executives was formed to supervise the aid provided by the UAE, stressing that there are no dealings between the government in Gaza and Dahlan, who lives in the UAE.

The sources also added that while the UAE wants to implement projects in Gaza through Dahlan, Qatari reconstruction projects are ongoing in Gaza.

The head of the Qatari Committee for Reconstructing Gaza Ambassador Mohammed Al-Emadi is scheduled to visit the Palestinian territories over the next two weeks. His trip will include Ramallah and the Gaza Strip.