Hamas Turns Down 15 Billion Dollar Aid Package Conditioned On Demilitarization

DOHA (VINnews) — Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh announced Monday that his terror group turned down $15 billion in development aid to Gaza two months ago which was conditioned on the demilitarization of Hamas. The offer was made as part of the Trump “Deal of the Century” peace plan.

Haniyeh referred in an interview with Qatari news outlet Al-Luseil to “parties” which had approached the terror group two months ago, adding that “we know they had been paid off by major powers.” The parties allegedly offered assistance in building new projects including an airport, a port and other economic development projects as well as the cancellation of the blockade on Hamas which has crippled the Gazan economy over the past few years. In return, Hamas were told to dissolve their military arm, integrate into the Palestinian police and relinquish all of their weapons. Moreover they would have to forgo their “opposition” to Israel and rule the Gaza strip independently of the PA.

Israel itself has demanded the release of two captives and the remains of two fallen soldiers in exchange for any easing of the blockade.

Haniyeh said that these conditions were unacceptable as they “put an end to the existence of resistance and separate Gaza from the rest of the Palestinian national movement.”

“We want to break the siege, and we want projects in the Gaza Strip. We want a port in Gaza — but as a right and not in exchange for our political principles or disarmament, ” Haniyeh added. “Our principle is Palestine from the river to the sea, the right of return, the liberation of prisoners and the establishment of a full sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

“There are often suggestions for projects to renovate the Gaza strip but unfortunately they are always met by a wall of Israeli intransigence,” Haniyeh added. “The goal is to throttle the Gaza strip and prevent projects which could stabilize its economy, strengthen its political establishment and upgrade its military and security. For example, there are 180 types of merchandise which cannot be brought into Gaza, such as fertilizer used for agriculture, due to the fear that they may be used to develop weapons. Israel is thereby preventing projects which could have a positive effect on the economy.”

In the interview, Haniyeh also hailed Qatar’s proactive role in “reconciling Palestinian disagreements,” saying that Qatar had good relations with “all Palestinian factions.”

Fatah and Hamas, which have been feuding ever since Hamas violently expelled Fatah from the Gaza Strip in 2007, recently agreed to work together against Israeli plans to annex parts of Judea and Samaria. The groups announced last week that they would hold a joint rally in Gaza at which both Haniyeh and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will speak.