clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Security fears in Israel after Qatar funds for Gaza frozen

January 9, 2019 at 9:37 am

A Palestinian receives medical treatment after being injured by Israeli forces, during the ‘Great March of Return’ in Gaza City, Gaza on 21 December 2018 [Ramez habboub/Anadolu Agency]

The Israeli government’s decision to freeze Qatari funds allocated to the Gaza Strip are causing security fears among security officials in Tel Aviv, Quds Press reported yesterday.

According to Haaretz, Israeli security is afraid that freezing the funds will lead to a deterioration in the humanitarian situations in Gaza; leaving Hamas unable to commit to the truce previously agreed.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to freeze the Qatari funds allocated to the Gaza Strip.

Qatar had pledged to pay $150 million to Gaza over a six month period. The money is to be spent on paying the salaries of government employees in the Strip, help ensure the electricity plant continues to operate and to support Palestinians who were injured during the “Great March Return” protests.

Two payments have already been sent over the past two months, these were met with severe criticism from senior Israeli officials who claimed that Israel was fighting Hamas on the one hand then allowing it to be funding on another.

READ: Housing ministry hands 124 new apartments to Gaza families