Ya’alon: Abbas objected to Qatari fuel entering Gaza through Ashdod

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas objected to the entrance of Qatari fuel to the Gaza electricity plant through the Israeli port of Ashdod, PalSawa.com reported a senior Israeli official as saying on Sunday.

Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon said Abbas objected because he would be unable to collect taxes on the fuel should it enter Gaza this way.

Speaking in Jerusalem, Ya’alon said the PA cannot survive without security cooperation with Israel, noting that the PA is currently exerting 80 per cent effort to prevent Hamas from controlling the West Bank.

According to the Israeli Maariv newspaper, the minister added: “Despite Israeli disengagement from Gaza… Gaza is still dependent on Israel in the field of water and electricity. Therefore, Gazans face much difficulties to rearm. They also became unable to smuggle weapons due to the Egyptian military operations.”

He hinted that Sudan is no longer a supporter of Hamas because it is now part of the Saudi Sunni camp.