16 June 18, 2017 News & Analysis Palestine Israel

Qatari crisis could spell new trouble for embattled Hamas

Fares Akram

Gaza Strip

atar, one of the few for- eign backers of Hamas, faces massive pressure from its Gulf neighbours to cut ties with the - Qic militant group. If it does, the result could be disastrous for Hamas-ruled Gaza. has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in roads, hous- ing and a major hospital in Gaza. Its infrastructure projects are one of the few job-creators in a devastated economy. Gaza already suffers from an Is- raeli-Egyptian blockade, widespread destruction from a string of Israel- Hamas wars, economic misery and chronic electricity shortages. For Ha- mas, Qatar’s injection of funds into the Gaza economy is a vital lifeline bolstering its rule. Qatar appears to be weighing its options but the mere prospect of los- ing Qatari support prompted Hamas to issue rare criticism of Saudi Ara- bia, which has been leading the cam- A blow for Hamas? A 2016 file picture shows posters depicting Qatar’s former Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (R) and Emir of paign against its tiny Gulf neighbour. Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on a building as people attend the opening ceremony of Qatari-funded construction project “Hamad Hamas official Mushir al-Masri City” in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. (Reuters) said the Saudi call for Qatar to cut ties with the Palestinian group is “regrettable” and contradicts tradi- In 2012, Qatar’s then emir, Hamad States Meshal bin Hamad al-Thani ergy to Gaza for what it says are hu- , which has had cool relations tional Arab support for the Palestin- bin Khalifa al-Thani, visited Gaza, said his country’s work in Gaza was manitarian reasons. However, in an with Hamas. “If these talks don’t ian cause. the first and only head of state to do “purely humanitarian.” ominous sign for Hamas, Qatar has lead to new understandings getting and three other Arab so since Hamas seized control of the “All our contacts are very trans- stopped the energy payments for Hamas out of its difficult political countries cut ties with Qatar, accus- territory from Palestinian President parent and they are clear, in coor- the past two months. It is unclear situation, I think there will be more ing it of supporting violent Islamist ten years ago. The dination with the US and the Pal- whether the payments were halted crises,” he said. groups across the region, including emir announced a grant of $407 mil- estinians and the Israelis. We don’t under Arab pressure. One person who could benefit Hamas. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel lion for humanitarian projects. understand where the problem is,” As the Islamic group marks its from Hamas’s troubles is Abbas, al-Jubeir said Qatar must sever its The grant is being used to build he said. tenth anniversary in power, the sit- who has repeatedly failed in talks ties with Hamas. a housing complex of 3,000 units. uation is grim. The territory suffers with Hamas to regain control of Qatar has denied the allegations Two phases of the Hamad Resi- Qatar has invested from rolling power cuts, with just Gaza. but its small size and reliance on dential City have been completed hundreds of millions four hours of electricity at a time, Abbas recently reduced the sala- food imports from Saudi Arabia and families moved into their new followed by 14-18 hours of outages. ries of his former employees in Gaza could make it susceptible to the houses in the southern Gaza town of dollars in Gaza. Tap water is undrinkable. Youth un- and threatened to scale back pay- pressure. of Khan Yunis. employment is estimated at 60%. ments for Gaza’s electricity — at- This could spell trouble for Ha- Palestinian contractors and Qatari Thousands wait for a rare chance to tempts to pressure Hamas. Abbas’s mas. The group is considered a ter- envoys signed deals in May to start Following a 50-day war between exit the blockaded territory. government, which maintains good rorist group by Israel and its Western the third and final phase of Hamad Israel and Hamas in 2014, Qatar was Unable to offer a remedy, Hamas ties with Qatar, has not commented allies. Israel and Hamas have fought City. Those deals could now be in the largest single donor for the re- has jailed people who dare to criti- on the latest crisis. three cross-border wars that caused question. construction of Gaza, pledging $1 cise it. Chagai Tzuriel, the director gen- large-scale damage in Gaza. Using that grant, Qatar also built billion at a Cairo-hosted interna- Mkhaimar Abusada, an inde- eral of Israel’s Intelligence Ministry, Qatar does not support Hamas a specialist prosthetic centre, the tional conference. Qatar has deliv- pendent Gaza political analyst, said said Hamas’s many troubles have directly but its large-scale projects first of its kind in Gaza. Qatar paved ered $50 million of this pledge for Qatari pressure could increase Ha- put it in a “strategic bind.” have significantly eased the burden roads, repaired or rebuilt mosques building 1,000 houses. mas’s political and financial isola- “I think they are under greater on Hamas authorities and given it and oversaw dozens of other infra- Qatar also helped pay for fuel de- tion. pressure now than before,” he said. some credit for bringing this money structure projects. liveries from Israel, which, despite A high-level Hamas delegation to Gaza. Qatari Ambassador to the United its enmity to Hamas, supplies en- was summoned to neighbouring (The Associated Press) Gaza marks ten years of conflict, misery under Hamas rule

The Arab Weekly staff Gazans used for smuggling to and as showering or running a wash- from the Sinai Peninsula. ing machine are done at odd hours, Israel withdrew its settlers and when power is on. London soldiers from Gaza in 2005, argu- Gaza’s sole power plant stopped ing that this ended its military oc- working in April after it ran out of t has been ten years since the cupation of the territory despite its fuel that had partially been paid Palestinian movement Hamas continued control over the region’s for by Qatar and Turkey, one-time took power in the Gaza Strip, land, sea and air links to the outside regional backers whose support ap- which continues to face con- world. pears to have cooled. flict, frequent electricity black- The international community, Concerns have been raised for Iouts, poverty and Israel’s blockade. however, has a different view. The hospitals and infrastructure such as The Gaza Strip came under Ha- considers the lands water treatment facilities — already mas control on June 15, 2007, after Israel captured in 1967 — the West at risk. its militants drove out forces loyal Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem — as The International Committee of to Palestinian President Mahmoud a single unit and holds Israel, as the the Red Cross warned of a “system- Abbas’s Fatah faction following a occupier, responsible for the wel- ic collapse.” dispute over parliamentary elec- fare of all Palestinians living there. Young people protested against tions won by the Islamist move- The World Bank said Gaza’s GDP electricity shortages in January ment. losses caused by the blockade are when thousands in northern Gaza estimated at more than 50%. Un- marched to the local headquarters The strip, which is employment stands at 45% and of the electricity company. Hamas home to about 2 more than two-thirds of the popu- Dark days. Palestinian children at home reading books by candle security forces fired warning shots million Palestinians, lation depends on humanitarian light due to electricity shortages in Gaza City. (AFP) and made arrests as they dispersed is also subject to a aid. the protesters. Further protests strict Israeli blockade. The Gaza Strip has almost no in- were prevented by a show of force dustry and suffers from a chronic only 70% of the monthly cost of -Presse. from Hamas security services and lack of water and fuel. Its problems electricity that the Israel Electric Hamas said the cut was made jailed demonstrators were later re- Divisions remain deep between are expected to increase after Israel Corporation supplies to the Gaza on Abbas’s orders and termed it “a leased. Hamas and Fatah, based in the oc- announced it would reduce elec- Strip. catastrophe.” “This decision ag- Whether the tensions will lead to cupied West Bank, with reconcilia- tricity supplies to the Gaza Strip af- The West Bank-based Palestin- gravates the situation and risks an another escalation between Hamas tion between the two rivals seem- ter the Palestinian Authority limit- ian Authority blamed the reduced explosion in the Gaza Strip,” the and Israel is a question constantly ingly a long way off. The power ed its pay for power to the enclave. power supply on Hamas’s failure to group said in a statement. being posed. struggle casts its shadow on the The decision by Israel’s secu- reimburse it for the electricity. The Gaza’s residents have adapted to While UN officials have called for poverty-stricken and overcrowded rity cabinet is expected to further Palestinian Authority had previous- worsening hardships with ingenu- Israel to lift its blockade, citing de- coastal enclave. shorten Gaza’s daily power input, ly cut the salaries of its employees ity and stoicism. teriorating conditions, Israel said it The strip, which is home to about which averages around four hours, in Gaza. In some apartment buildings, is needed to stop Hamas from ob- 2 million Palestinians, is also sub- by 45 minutes. Gaza’s residents re- “To resolve the crisis Hamas residents have pooled resources to taining weapons or materials used ject to a strict Israeli blockade and ceive power from an electricity grid must respond to Mahmoud Abbas’s buy communal generators. Most to make them. its border with Egypt has largely dependent on Israeli supplies. offer to end the political divisions,” Gazans buy food daily because they remained closed in recent years. The Palestinian Authority in- Palestinian Authority spokes- can no longer use refrigerators. The Arab Weekly staff and news Egypt has destroyed many tunnels formed Israel that it would cover man Tareq Rashmawi told Agence Formerly routine activities such agencies.