BICOM

Israel yesterday blocked a $15m Qatari cash transfer to Gaza after violence on the Gaza border.

The payment from Qatar is the third planned instalment of a $150m pledge to fund civil servant wages and shipments of fuel for power generation in Gaza. The funds were expected to be transferred on Wednesday, after they were delayed by Israel last week in response to incidents of cross-border violence.

Yesterday an Israeli officer was shot in the head by a sniper from Gaza and a Hamas fighter was killed in a retaliatory strike. The injured officer was discharged from hospital in Beer Sheva after being treated for a laceration to the head, and the Hamas fighter was identified as 24-year-old Mahmoud Abed al-Nabahin.

While it was unclear who was responsible for the sniper fire, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: “The Hamas terror organisation is solely responsible for all acts of aggression originating from the Gaza Strip and emanating from it. The IDF is prepared to operate against all acts of terror emanating from the Gaza Strip and remains determined to protect Israeli civilians.”

After the exchange of fire along the border, an Israeli diplomatic source said: “After consultation with security officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided not to allow the transfer of Qatari money to the Gaza Strip.” A Hamas official told The Times of Israel that “Netanyahu’s decision to prevent the entry is a crime that will push Gaza toward an explosion”.

Hours after the announcement, the Israeli Air Force hit targets in the Gaza Strip, bombing a Hamas training camp. According to a statement from the Israeli army: “The strike was executed following earlier strikes during the day and in response to the shooting incidents against our forces.”