Egypt promises $500 million to Gaza, excludes Hamas
Egypt's relations with Hamas have improved greatly, but Cairo insists on keeping Gaza's reconstruction money out of its hands.
CAIRO — Egypt is talking more to Hamas than ever before, but funds destined for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will soon be a new contentious issue between the two sides, say political and security analysts.
"The reconstruction money will become the center of conflicts between the two sides in the future," Samir Ghattas, head of the Egyptian think tank Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies and National Security, told Al-Monitor. "There is belief in Cairo that Hamas will use the money for purposes other than reconstruction if it lays its hands on it."
Vast areas of Gaza were devastated during its 11-day war with Israel in May, provoked by clashes between Israeli Jews and Arabs in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah and attacks by Israeli police against Palestinian Muslims praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Egypt, which played a vital role in brokering a cease-fire May 20, pledged $500 million for Gaza's reconstruction. Cairo insists that reconstruction work be done through its own construction companies, meaning it will not put a penny in the hands of the Hamas leaders.
