PA worries Egyptian aid to Hamas prolongs Palestinian division
Gaza is in desperate need of Egyptian aid such as diesel fuel supplies and a planned free-trade zone, but some in Ramallah fear that if Gaza's financial crisis eases too much, Hamas will be less motivated to reconcile.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Egypt has taken several steps to improve economic conditions for Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On Aug. 11, an agreement was reached to establish a free-trade zone on the Gazan-Egyptian border during a visit by a Hamas delegation to Cairo. On June 21, Egyptian industrial diesel was brought to Gaza to operate the enclave’s sole power plant.
Egypt’s actions are a response to the sanctions imposed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Gaza, where Hamas has been suffering a financial crisis since 2014, when Iran cut its aid to Hamas in light of the Syrian crisis.
