Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper reported June 15 that Israel has approved the transfer of $50 million to the Gaza Strip, in financial aid from Qatar. The money is expected to reach Gaza later this week or at the beginning of next week, and probably in two installments. The money will be transferred to projects supported by Qatar, especially infrastructure and electricity, and also to assist needy families.
The transfer comes on the backdrop of indirect contacts in recent days between Israel and Hamas, with the involvement of United Nations special envoy to the region Nickolay Mladenov and Qatari envoy to Gaza Mohammed al-Emadi. Hamas activists have been threatening lately to resume unrest on the Gaza-Israel border, specifically the incendiary balloon terror. It now seems that Mladenov and Emadi mediated an unofficial deal between the sides. In return for the money transfer, Hamas will keep quiet on the border.
