UN official denies involvement in transferring Qatari money to Gaza

The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry categorically denied on Saturday allegations that he tried to funnel Qatari funds to Hamas in Gaza.

In a statement by Serry, quoted by Anadolu, he said that throughout the past seven years he undertook his responsibilities with neutrality, and that it’s “regrettable” that his transparency is now called into question.

Serry added that he paid a pre-planned visit to Qatar two weeks ago, and had not discussed with Qatari officials any role by the UN to solve the payroll crisis in Gaza.

On Saturday, Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman called for expelling Serry from Israel and declaring him persona non grata, allegedly for his attempt to funnel $20 million via Qatar to Gaza to pay salaries of employees there.

Qatar had previously vowed to pay $20 million per month over a period of three months to solve the payroll crisis in Gaza.

Despite the formation of a national unity government on June 2, the Hamas government employees in Gaza, 50,000, have not received their salaries, unlike their West Bank counterparts.