Israel stops transfer of Qatari funds to Gaza amid renewed conflict on the border
Israel halted a previously approved US$15 million transfer to the Gaza-controlled Hamas terrorist group from Qatar on Tuesday amid renewed violent tension along the Gaza-Israel border.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh flashes the victory gesture upon his arrival at the Rafah border crossing from Egypt after reconciliation talks with the Fatah movement mediated by Egyptian intelligence in southern Gaza, Sept. 19, 2017. Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90.
This development comes as an Israeli officer was hurt by sniper fire along the border on Tuesday, with a Hamas terrorist killed in a counterattack by Israel. The Israeli military shut down areas near the border to civilian traffic, fearing more violence.
“Following the recent incidents in the Gaza Strip, and with consultation with security officials, [Israeli] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided not to allow the transfer of Qatari money to the Gaza Strip tomorrow,” an Israeli diplomatic official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist organizations were scheduled to meet on Tuesday evening to discuss “how to respond to the Israeli escalation,” reported Palestinian media.
A Hamas official told The Times of Israel that “Netanyahu’s decision to prevent their entry is a crime that will push Gaza toward an explosion.”
The US$15 million assistance from Qatar was to be the third installment approved by Israel’s government in what officials see as a way to ease tensions and avoid a potential humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
JNS
Well it seems everyone thinks this way, if it is considered a crime to stop terrorist, we can’t win lets just wipe them out with a smart bomb and be done with it. It seems that the world has no problems when it’s the Jews who are being murdered, apparently we don’t die fast eough for them or in large numbers. So much for “Never Again” The world just keeps feeding the terrorist.