Hamas leader presents 3 options for Gaza
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar reportedly proposed three scenarios to change the deteriorating situation in Gaza, including allowing the UN or Egypt to deploy in the besieged enclave.
As the Palestinian Authority (PA) has yet to lift the sanctions it has imposed on the Gaza Strip since March 2017, Hamas took control Feb. 17 of the Kerem Abu Salem border crossing with Israel, Gaza’s only trade crossing. The PA employees at the crossing withdrew following a dispute with Hamas security services over procedures.
Hamas had handed control of Kerem Abu Salem to the PA as part of an October 2017 reconciliation agreement, which has reached an impasse.
Hamas’ new control over the crossing is expected to increase the revenues of Hamas-run Gaza ministries, which could help alleviate the financial crisis plaguing the enclave.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip had been worsening progressively since Hamas initially rejected the third payment of a Qatari grant in January, citing Israel's failure to abide by a truce sponsored by the United Nations, Egypt and Qatar.
