GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — In cooperation with Gaza’s maritime police, the Ministry of Agriculture in the Gaza Strip handed over 25 Palestinian fishing boats to their owners Dec. 2. On Nov. 29, Israel had released these boats that had been in its possession for four or five years.

Israel continues to hold 33 Palestinian boats seized in the past five years, under the pretext of breaching the permissible fishing zone, ranging between 3 and 9 nautical miles from the shore. It caused other boats to sink, claiming that they pose a security threat and are being used in the smuggling of banned goods.

This development can only be interpreted in regard to the Egyptian- and Qatari-mediated truce talks between Israel and Gaza’s factions, and particularly in light of Israel's expectations that the parties make headway in the talks.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported Dec. 7 that Ambassador Mohamed al-Emadi, head of Qatar's National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, arrived in the Gaza Strip Dec. 6 with the second installment of the Qatari grant, noting that sources within Hamas' Ministry of Finance confirmed that the funds had been deposited, upon Israel’s consent, and that the salaries of the Hamas-appointed government employees would be paid Dec. 7 — which in fact have started being paid. In addition, a higher quantity of power supply from Israel to Gaza is anticipated.