The recent turbulent atmosphere in Judea and Samaria, including the attack on Israeli civilians outside Ofra, are the direct result of Qatar’s transfer of a $15 million cash grant to Hamas in the Gaza Strip through Israel, a Palestinian Authority Security official told Ynet on Tuesday.
It should be noted that the PA has been objecting to these payments from day one, and sees them as enabling its biggest foe, the Hamas leadership, to maintain its economic independence. Nevertheless, the anonymous official’s point appears cogent, when He claims that much of the money has been transferred to Hamas agents in the PA, who are directed from the Gaza Strip.
According to the same official, terrorists released by the Netanyahu government in exchange for Gilad Shalit in 2011 and were expelled to the Gaza Strip, use part of the Qatari money to recruit terrorists in Judea and Samaria who would be willing to buy weapons to carry out attacks.
“The shooting attack near Ofra is a direct continuation of this scenario,” the official said.
The second round of the $15 million Qatari grant entered the Gaza Strip last Thursday. Altogether, the Qatari grant to Hamas amounts to $150 million, distributed in six monthly payments.
The grant is intended to pay the salaries of 30,000 civil servants in the Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip, as well as support an estimated 50,000 needy individuals, who receive $100 each. An additional $10 million is allocated each month for the purchase of diesel fuel for the operation of the Gaza power plant.