عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Hamas Approves New Solution to Qatari Grant Crisis

Rescuers search for people in the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City on May 16, 2021. (Reuters)
Rescuers search for people in the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City on May 16, 2021. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Hamas Approves New Solution to Qatari Grant Crisis

Rescuers search for people in the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City on May 16, 2021. (Reuters)
Rescuers search for people in the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City on May 16, 2021. (Reuters)

Palestinian political sources have revealed that the Hamas movement has agreed to a new solution to the crisis over the transfer of the Qatari grant to the Gaza Strip.

The solution calls for Israel and the United States to review and approve the list of people who are qualified to receive the aid, the sources told Israeli media.

Jack Khoury, a correspondent at Haaretz, said: “Hamas agreed not just because of the Israeli and American demands, but also because of pressure from the Palestinian banks which will transfer the Qatari money to Gaza, sources involved in the matter said. The banks are afraid they will be exposed to lawsuits if the money reaches members of terrorist organizations.”

He added that Hamas “understands that any aid will contribute to the stability in the Gaza Strip.”

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

The Israel Defense website reported that Hamas is running out of patience, noting that the conditions set by Israel and logistical obstacles are complicating the situation.

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

According to Haaretz, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his ministers accused former PM Benjamin Netanyahu of funding Hamas through the Qatari funds. For this, they decided to change this policy and set new rules.

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.

However, Israel and the Palestinian Authority have opposed payments to employees of the Hamas government. Tel Aviv views these payments as a form of support to terrorism, while Ramallah says they fuel the Palestinian division.

Given that the PA banking system is 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, Washington suggested that Israel review the list of Gazans who need assistance.

Israel would also omit the names of Hamas activists from the list. This way, the banks would be covered by the US partnership.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

FM: Iraq Wants Iran-backed Factions to Lay Down Weapons

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison
TT
TT

FM: Iraq Wants Iran-backed Factions to Lay Down Weapons

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison

Iraq is trying to convince powerful armed factions in the country that have fought US forces and fired rockets and drones at Israel to lay down their weapons or join official security forces, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said.

The push comes with a backdrop of seismic shifts in the Middle East that have seen Iran's armed allies in Gaza and Lebanon heavily degraded and Syria's government overthrown.

The incoming US Trump administration promises to pile more pressure on Tehran, which has long backed a number of political parties and an array of armed factions in Iraq.

Some Baghdad officials are concerned the status quo there may be upended next, but Hussein played this down in an interview with Reuters during an official visit to London.

"We don't think that Iraq is the next," Hussein said.

The government was in talks to rein in the groups while continuing to walk the tightrope between its ties to both Washington and Tehran, he said.
"Two or three years ago it was impossible to discuss this topic in our society," he said.

But now, having armed groups functioning outside the state was not acceptable.

"Many political leaders, many political parties started to raise a discussion, and I hope that we can convince the leaders of these groups to lay down their arms, and then to be part of the armed forces under the responsibility of the government," Hussein said.

Iraq's balancing act has been tested by Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups' attacks on Israel and on US troops in the country they say are in solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

A promised Gaza ceasefire has the government breathing a sigh of relief, though uncertainty prevails over how the country may fare after Donald Trump becomes US president.

During the last Trump presidency, relations grew tense as he ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020, leading to an Iranian ballistic missile attack on an Iraqi base housing US forces.

"We hope that we can continue this good relationship with Washington," Hussein said. "It is too early now to talk about which policy President Trump is going to follow for Iraq or Iran."

Iraq will only be reassured about Syria when it sees an inclusive political process, Hussein said, adding Baghdad would supply the country with grain and oil once it could be assured it would go to all Syrians.
Baghdad was in talks with Syria's foreign minister over a visit to Iraq, he said.

"We are worried about the ISIS, so we are in contact with the Syrian side to talk about these things, but at the end to have a stable Syria means to have the representative of all components in the political process."

Baghdad and Washington last year agreed to end the US-led coalition's work by September 2026 and transition to bilateral military ties, but Hussein said that the developments in Syria would have to be watched.

"In the first place, we are thinking about security of Iraq and stability in Iraq. If there will be a threat to our country, of course it will be a different story," he said.