Egypt, Qatar agreement with Israel, Hamas provides boost for Gaza economy
The economic agreement allows $10 million worth of food, fuel and supplies, as well as a boost for salaries.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Qatar and Egypt signed an economic agreement that allows Egypt to supply fuel and construction material to the Gaza Strip, through Qatari funding, under an agreement that would revive the Gaza Strip’s economy and contribute to paying the salaries of Hamas government employees.
Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Soltan bin Saad al-Muraikhi announced the agreement Nov. 18, on the sidelines of the two countries’ participation in the ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians in Oslo.
The agreement reflects a consensus between Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Hamas and the United Nations to solve the stalemate of Israel's refusal to allow Qatar to transfer a monthly financial grant to contribute to paying Hamas government employees’ salaries, which had been suspended after the last battle between Israel and the Gaza factions in May.
Since 2018, Qatar had been offering a monthly grant of $30 million to the Gaza Strip, $10 million of which were paid as financial support for 100,000 underprivileged families at a rate of $100 per family; $10 million were used to buy fuel to operate the only power plant in the Gaza Strip; and another $10 million were directed to projects for the unemployed and contributions to the salaries of Hamas government employees.
