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.
