GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Qatar's Ambassador to the Palestinian territories Mohammed al-Emadi revealed in a press statement Feb. 14 that Qatar has agreed to increase its contribution to the salaries of the Hamas-appointed government employees in the Gaza Strip from $7 million to $10 million a month.

The contribution is part of the $360 million grant to the Gaza Strip announced by Qatar Jan. 31, only two weeks following a presidential decree to hold Palestinian legislative and presidential elections, as well as to vote for the Palestinian National Council.

Since its victory in the 2006 elections and its subsequent control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, the Hamas movement has been suffering an acute financial crisis under the Israeli siege. This has prevented the movement from paying its 50,000 employees full salaries. Instead, the employees only obtain an advance payment of 40% to 50% of their monthly salaries. 

The employees’ salaries issue has been on top of the agenda of the inter-Palestinian talks between Fatah and Hamas, and the multiple negotiations rounds held in the wake of every military escalation between Israel and Hamas.