Report: Qatar Slashes Gaza Fuel Funding

Qatar has reportedly slashed 50 percent of its funding for fuel entering the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, although some sources within the Palestinian enclave denied the claim. The Gulf state will nevertheless still cover the cost of 1.5 million liters each week. The move comes days after Doha’s envoy to Gaza handed over to Hamas tens of millions of dollars in cash meant for distribution to some 100,000 families living in the blockaded territory. Israel has allowed Qatar to transfer approximately $200 million to Hamas over the past six months as part of a loose cease-fire agreed to in May that averted full-blown war. However, cracks may be emerging in the Qatar-Hamas alliance, possibly over the terrorist group’s refusal to abide by its commitment to reign in violence. In this respect, Gaza-based terrorists over the past month have repeatedly fired rockets into Israel while the IDF thwarted numerous attempts by armed Palestinians to infiltrate into Israeli territory. At the same time, Hamas has failed to curb the “March of Return” protests, with Gazans still staging violent demonstrations along the border every Friday. In an apparent response to Qatar’s decision, Israel immediately restored shipments of fuel to Gaza that it halted last month amid a spate of rocket fire. On Friday, Arab media reported that Jerusalem had offered Hamas a slew of economic concessions in return for a long-term cease-fire. Otherwise, Israel allegedly threatened to launch a large-scale operation in the Palestinian enclave, possibly to topple Hamas.