Israel’s government cabinet voted Wednesday to approve the transfer of $15 million in Qatari cash to Gaza’s Hamas-run government Thursday, according to a report by Israeli Channel 12 TV news, despite an incident in which a Gaza terrorist shot an IDF soldier in the head just a day earlier.
The money comprises the third tranche of a Qatari grant that was originally to be delivered to the enclave three weeks ago, but was delayed due to the ongoing violence led by Hamas at the Gaza border with Israel.
Qatari envoy Mohammed El-Amadi traveled to Jerusalem on Wednesday, according to The Jerusalem Post, and then traveled subsequently to Gaza in an effort to defuse the tension between the two sides.
The payment had been scheduled for delivery on Wednesday but was held back by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said there would be no transfer of the funds after Gaza terrorists shot the IDF company commander – an incident that followed an ongoing escalation of violence along the border.
Some 14,000 rioters hurled rocks, live grenades, flaming Molotov cocktails and burning tires last Friday at the security fence and at the IDF soldiers who were stationed along the border to protect the Israeli civilians living nearby.
Nevertheless, a number of terrorists managed to breach the border and infiltrate through the security fence. When they encountered Israeli security personnel as they approached one of the nearby Jewish communities, however, they turned around and returned to Gaza through the border fence.