Hamas is threatening Israel that if a Qatari official is not permitted into Gaza by week’s end with suitcases of cash, and if electric supply to Gaza is not stepped up, then it will begin escalating its terrorist activities.

A Hamas official told the Al-Akbar newspaper that Hamas has renewed calls to Egyptian intermediaries in Qatar to pressure the political echelon in Israel to implement the previously agreed to understanding, due to the “boiling situation in the Strip that could lead to the return of independent operations”.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the start of the week came under attack by critics, that he is preventing the IDF from dealing with Hamas in Gaza. As he got on a plane for his official visit to Kiev this week, PM Netanyahu stated that rumors he is holding back with a military operation in Gaza because of elections are untrue, and if such action is required, he will not hesitate. There was a rocket attack in Sderot on motzei Shabbos.

It is pointed out that Hamas is seeking confrontation with Israel, because the Qatari official has the option of entering Gaza via Egypt, without Israel’s consent.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)