Israeli Sources Warn Against Delaying Qatari Grant to Gaza

A child watches the removal of the rubble of Al-Shorouk Tower in Gaza, which was targeted by Israeli airstrikes (AFP)
A child watches the removal of the rubble of Al-Shorouk Tower in Gaza, which was targeted by Israeli airstrikes (AFP)
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Israeli Sources Warn Against Delaying Qatari Grant to Gaza

A child watches the removal of the rubble of Al-Shorouk Tower in Gaza, which was targeted by Israeli airstrikes (AFP)
A child watches the removal of the rubble of Al-Shorouk Tower in Gaza, which was targeted by Israeli airstrikes (AFP)

Several Israeli sources warned that delaying the Qatari grant to the Gaza Strip and freezing the funds for any reason will deepen the economic crisis, which may lead to a new tension and security escalation.

The Hebrew "Israel Defense" website stated in a report that Hamas is running out of patience, noting that the conditions set by Israel and the logistical obstacles complicate the situation.

The report indicated that a quick solution is required, perhaps transferring the money in bags as was the case in the past, because Israel is not interested in a military escalation with Hamas at this stage.

Qatar had agreed to provide the Gaza Strip with $30 million a month, $100 to be paid to about 100,000 families, in addition to the salaries of government employees.

Israel prevented the arrival of these funds and requested that another mechanism be found through the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, Hamas rejected the proposal, so another suggestion was put forward to transfer the funds through the United Nations, but Israel refused.

Tel Aviv suggested that Qatar assume responsibility for distributing these funds according to the prepared lists of names which include 160,000 Gazan families.

However, the PA banking and humanitarian systems are refusing to participate in an outline to facilitate the transfer of Qatari aid into the Strip, fearing such cooperation would expose them to legal actions on the grounds of supporting and funding terrorism.

Feras Milhem, governor and chairman of the PMA, alluded to this legal issue when he clarified that the organization is committed to international standards of practice.

On Tuesday, Israeli sources revealed that successful negotiations took place in recent weeks between Qatar and the Authority regarding this grant and ways to distribute it.

The two sides agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to transfer Qatari funds through banks subject to the supervision of the Palestinian Monetary Fund according to a list of names compiled by the Qatari side.

The delay in the arrival of the funds to the Palestinian families creates severe tension in Gaza, and sources in Tel Aviv suggest that Israel is likely to agree to distribute the money through bags, and the lists of citizens eligible for support pass through the Israeli intelligence.



Pedersen Says ‘Extremely Critical’ to Avoid Syria Being Dragged into War in Region

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus on Sunday. (Syrian Foreign Ministry)
UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus on Sunday. (Syrian Foreign Ministry)
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Pedersen Says ‘Extremely Critical’ to Avoid Syria Being Dragged into War in Region

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus on Sunday. (Syrian Foreign Ministry)
UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus on Sunday. (Syrian Foreign Ministry)

The UN special envoy for Syria said on Sunday that it was “extremely critical” to end the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza to avoid the country being pulled into a regional war.

“We need now to make sure that we have immediately a ceasefire in Gaza, that we have a ceasefire in Lebanon, and that we avoid Syria being dragged even further into the conflict,” said Geir Pedersen ahead of a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has not released any details about the Pedersen-Sabbagh meeting. It only issued a brief statement in which it announced the meeting.

Local sources said Pedersen's second visit to Damascus this year is aimed at exploring the possibility of resuming the Constitutional Committee meetings aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis.

The meetings have been stalled since the eighth round on February 22, 2022, due to a dispute over the venue of the reconvening of the Constitutional Committee. Russia, which is not satisfied with Switzerland's joining Western sanctions against Moscow because of the Ukraine war, refuses to hold it in Geneva.

“Pedersen is holding talks with Syrian officials in Damascus, where he arrived last Wednesday, about the possibility of resuming the Constitutional Committee meetings,” reported Syria’s Al-Watan newspaper.

Earlier this month, Russian presidential envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev told TASS: “As you know, only one venue - Geneva - is still unacceptable for the Russian side. As for all others, we are ready to work there.”

He added: “Probably, there is an open option with Baghdad, which, regrettably, was rejected by the Syrian opposition. It refused from this venue because Baghdad is supporting Damascus. They don’t think that Iraq is a neutral venue.”

The Russian diplomat stressed that the committee’s work should be resumed as soon as possible, but, in his words, it takes a lot of effort to find a venue that would be acceptable for both Damascus and the Syrian opposition.

Israel has been conducting airstrikes in Syria against government forces, Iranian troops and Hezbollah targets since the eruption of the crisis there in 2011. Strikes have increased following the Israeli war on Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon.

On Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll of the Israeli airstrikes on Palmyra city on November 20 continues to increase with many people suffering from severe injuries.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of three Syrians and two non-Syrian members of Iranian-backed militias, bringing the number of fatalities to 105.