GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is leveling criticism at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allowing Qatari funds to enter the Gaza Strip — funds he says Hamas is using to execute military operations against Israeli targets in the West Bank.
“Netanyahu personally takes money and gives it to Hamas [via Qatari funds to Gaza], which in turn is turning the money here [in the West Bank] into weapons, equipment and funds," Abbas said during a Dec. 22 meeting of the PLO Executive Committee in Ramallah.
On Oct. 10, Qatar announced a $150 million aid package for the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, after receiving Israeli approval. Out of the $150 million, some $15 million is to be allocated each month for six months to pay the salaries of Gaza’s government employees. On Nov. 9, the first payout for government employees was made. The Qatari ambassador to the Palestinian territories, Mohammed al-Emadi, carries the money personally to Gaza every month, using the Israel-Gaza border crossing at Erez.
With the remaining $60 million of the aid package, Qatar is buying fuel to run Gaza's only power plant for six months. Hamas is also giving some of the money to 50,000 families.
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