The fire in the south continues, and in ongoing talks Hamas has raised a new demand: to increase aid to $ 40 million a month • Israel is debating: "Alternatives to money can be found"
Hamas is demanding an increase in the monthly aid it receives from Qatar to $ 40 million, as well as allowing progress on a number of civilian projects in Gaza.
Photo: Police Spokeswoman
The demand was raised as part of the contacts that are taking place in an attempt to bring calm to the south. Hamas currently receives $ 30 million, which is transferred each month in cash to the Gaza Strip. Israel approves the introduction of the money subject to individual approval of the list of citizens and the projects that receive it, although it is estimated that some of it is transferred to Hamas and is also used to strengthen the organization's military.
Qatari aid, which began less than two years ago, initially stood at $ 5 million a month, then increased to $ 10 million, then to $ 20 million, and last year to $ 30 million.
Hamas is now seeking to increase it again by an additional $ 10 million, to $ 40 million a month, as well as accepting a commitment that the money will be transferred regularly and for a long period to be determined in advance.
In Qatar they have not yet been answered
In Qatar, the demand has not yet been met, partly due to their desire to know where the funds will be transferred. Israel is also considering how to respond to it, and there are several approaches among senior political-security officials.
One source said that Israel should approve the demand subject to achieving a long-term calm in Gaza, while another source said that other alternatives to money could be found in the form of approval of projects in the Gaza Strip that are important to Hamas. By doing so, he believes, Israel will reduce the danger that Qatari money will "roll into places that could endanger its security."
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Hamas' demands were raised this week in talks with Egypt and UN officials. The organization is also interested in promoting a series of civilian projects in the Gaza Strip, mainly in the areas of health and infrastructure.
Some sources believe that this should be conditioned on advancing negotiations to return the bodies of IDF martyrs Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, and to the release of civilians Abra Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are being held in Gaza. However, the chances are low that Demands in return.
The sources said that in any case, progress in contacts on all issues will be possible only after a complete cessation of incendiary balloons sent from Gaza to Israel. They made it clear that even the entry of the Qatari emissary into the Strip would not be allowed before then. This position was transferred to Hamas, and Israel hopes that it will be answered in the affirmative, in part against the background of the military and civilian pressure exerted on the organization in recent days. "We are interested in quiet. As soon as the fires stop, we will move on to other issues," the senior official said.