Published: 3 May 2022
Last updated: 4 March 2024
Qatar has provided $US3 billion in aid to the West Bank and Gaza over the last decade with Israel's approval, and has recently increased steps to prevent escalations in the Strip
QATAR HAS BEGUN playing a key role in stabilizing the West Bank and Gaza over the past weeks, while growing closer to Egypt and the United States.
Among the stabilising measures are the Qatari emissary's efforts to ensure that clashes on Land Day in March did not spread to the Gaza Strip. In addition, two weeks ago, in the midst of a tense month of Ramadan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held two phone conversations, one with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the other with the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, calling on both to prevent an escalation.
The recent steps of the small emirate, one of the 10 wealthiest countries in the world, come on top of the financial aid it has been providing to the Palestinian territories which adds up to $3 billion over the past decade, according to figures obtained by Haaretz.
According to Qatari sources, out of about $1.5 billion that Qatar invested in the Gaza Strip, approximately half went to infrastructure projects and about half a billion dollars went for what was called “welfare areas.”
About $US9 million was transferred via the United Nations to support orphans from Operation Protective Edge, build fuel tanks for the electricity plant in Gaza, expand the Yarmuk soccer stadium and build two veterinary centres in Beit Lahia.
FULL STORY In a shift, Qatar plays central role in stabilising Israeli-Palestinian ties (Haaretz)
Photo: Khalifa al-Kuwari, second right, director of the Qatar Fund for Development, cuts the ribbon during the opening ceremony of new Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Hospital (Adel Hana/AP)
