US restores funding to Gaza aid groups
Following funding 'freeze' on Friday over Hamas decision to ignore audit deadline, US restores funding after International Medical Corps agrees to independent audit
The United States restored funding to international aid groups in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, a US official said, after the Palestinian territory's Hamas rulers backed away from a demand that could have stripped the poverty-stricken area of $100 million in aid.
The official said the United States "paused" its funding on Friday after Hamas ignored a 48-hour deadline for withdrawing its demand to one of the groups to turn over its books for auditing.
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The official, said the demand by Hamas to audit the books of international organizations would have violated US regulations banning contact with the group.
The US, EU and Israel have declared Hamas a terror organization for attacks on Israelis, including suicide bombings.
Hamas Minister of Planning in Gaza Mohammed Awad said the Gaza office of the International Medical Corps. reopened Sunday after it was briefly closed for rejecting the Hamas demand to audit the group's offices and books.
Awad said the medical aid organization agreed to independent auditing.
Based on this compromise for an independent auditor, US funding for groups that work in Gaza was restored, according to the US official.
Earlier, Awad explained the audit demand by saying Hamas was trying to ensure that international organizations were providing services to citizens.
However, the US official described the Hamas demand to search the offices of international aid groups and conduct its own audit as "unprecedented."
Aid groups have expressed concern in the past that Hamas was trying to exert control over their activities and funding.
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