Hamas employees receive salaries thanks to Qatari cash

Employees of the Hamas administration in Gaza on Friday began collecting their salaries, after Qatar pumped more money into the territory with Israel's blessings.

Hundreds of employees of Hamas government departments waited in long queues outside banks in the Gaza Strip from the early hours, AFP reported.

The Hamas-run “finance ministry” in Gaza announced in a statement to local media that the money would be distributed over the next two days, with employees receiving 50 percent of their salaries.

On Thursday, Qatar transferred $15 million to Gaza via the Erez crossing with Israel, through the Qatari envoy to the region, Mohammed al-Amedi.

This was the second installment of the Qatari grant, which will see a total of $90 million is to be distributed in six monthly installments of $15 million, primarily to cover salaries of officials working for Hamas.

The Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority has denied funding to officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza, after Hamas failed to reinstate PA control over the coastal enclave following last year’s reconciliation agreement.

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