Qatar to begin distributing money to Gazan families again

Qatar will start disbursing a grant to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip tomorrow.

The Gulf state’s Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza and Fund for Development will distribute the grant among “needy families” in Gaza in coordination with the United Nations. The process will take place at around 300 distribution centers throughout the Palestinian territory over approximately 10 days, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Qatar has provided more than $1.5 billion over the past decade to the Gaza Strip. The money goes toward paying salaries, electricity and supporting the poor. Israel stopped the funding after its May war with the Palestinian political and military organization Hamas. In August, Israel and Qatar, which lack formal diplomatic relations, reached an agreement to resume cash payments.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this is the third transfer to Gazan families since the “Israeli aggression” in May. They did not say how much money would be distributed this time around.

The Qatari government also announced last week more funding for the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East.

Hamas controls Gaza internally, and various other Palestinian armed groups also operate there. Israel and Egypt maintain a blockade of Gaza. Much of the territory lives in poverty.