The United States will offer more than $900 million in aid for Gaza while promising that the money will be funneled through the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority without reaching Hamas’s pockets. However, both factions are to begin unity talks on Thursday that could pave the way for sharing aid.
Previous aid to Fatah usually has found its way to Hamas, either directly or through indirect channels.
Simultaneously, Hamas’s senior leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar announced Tuesday that the terrorist organization reserves the right to bring arms and money to Gaza.
The announcement of the amount of aid was unofficial and was attributed to a senior aide who insisted on anonymity because the final amount has not been approved. The leak may have been purposely timed to promote Secretary Clinton’s scheduled appearance at a donors conference in Cairo next Monday, followed by her first visit to Israel and the Middle East since taking office.
The Bush administration’s policy was to shun Hamas, but questions have been raised if President Barack Obama will soften the boycott. U.S. Senator John Kerry this week became the first ranking American official to visit Gaza since the Hamas takover two years ago but said he did not meet with Hamas officials although he was unknowingly given an envelope from the party for President Obama.
After the revelation of the source of the letter, which had been placed in the offices of the United Nations, officials said Sen. Kerry left it behind at the United States consulate in Jerusalem.
By next week, Hamas and Fatah hope to have begun talks towards a unity government, which was in place until Hamas wrested total control from the rival faction.
One of the negotiators for unity is Al-Zahar, the official who maintained the right of arms.