GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas announced Jan. 23 its rejection of the third tranche of a Qatari grant to the Gaza Strip because of “the behavior” of the Israeli government. Israel froze the transfer of the grant to Gaza twice, on Jan. 7 and Jan. 22, due to the security tensions on the frontlines between Gaza and Israel.

Hamas’ announcement portends an escalation in the frequency of the marches of return on the borders in the coming weeks.

In November 2018, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum considered the Qatari grant of $150 million a result of the weekly marches of return on the Gaza borders that started in March. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani announced the grant in October to be disbursed in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The funds are intended to pay the salaries for Gaza’s civil servants and to buy fuel for Gaza’s only power plant.

Mohammed al-Emadi, head of the Qatar National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza and Qatari ambassador to the Palestinian territories, started transferring the funds to the Gaza Strip in November through the Israeli-controlled Erez border crossing in installments of $15 million per month. The funds are to be paid over six installments for six months. This is in addition to $60 million for fuel needed to run Gaza’s electric company over six months.