Report: Israel to transfer $50 million of Qatari aid to Gaza

Al Akhbar newspaper reports that in exchange for the money, Hamas has pledged to stop flying incendiary balloons into Israeli territory; agreement was mediated by Qatari envoy to Gaza and UN envoy to the Mideast
Elior Levy |
Israel has agreed to transfer $50 million of Qatari aid into the Gaza Strip and continue the social projects started by the Gulf states in exchange for Hamas’ pledge to stop incendiary balloon terror, Beirut-based Al Akhbar newspaper reported Monday.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • The amount is equal to two installments of Qatar’s monthly payment to the needy population in the coastal enclave.
    3 View gallery
    הפרחת בלוני תבערה לעבר ישראל
    הפרחת בלוני תבערה לעבר ישראל
    Gaza's incendiary balloon unit
    The agreement was apparently mediated by Qatari envoy to Gaza, Mohammed al-Emadi, and UN's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Nikolai Mladenov.
    The two have pledged the aid will be delivered this week, but no exact date has been set.
    3 View gallery
    הפרחה הפרחת בלונים בלוני תבערה מחבל מחבלים חמאס רצועת עזה
    הפרחה הפרחת בלונים בלוני תבערה מחבל מחבלים חמאס רצועת עזה
    Gaza's incendiary balloon unit
    The move comes after Palestinian militants in Gaza last week resumed the practice of sending balloons with flammable material or explosives attached to it, into Israel.
    On Friday a cluster of balloons was launched from the Al-Bureij refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip. However, security officials in Israel said none of the balloons crossed into Israeli territory.
    3 View gallery
    הפרחת בלוני תבערה לעבר ישראל
    הפרחת בלוני תבערה לעבר ישראל
    Gaza's incendiary balloon unit
    One member of the incendiary balloon unit said the resumption of the practice is a Palestinian response to Israel’s plans to “annex parts of the West Bank and Israel’s harming of the al-Aqsa mosque.”
    The militant threatened the launching of the balloons would gradually increase if Israel continues its plan to apply its sovereignty over the settlements.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""