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JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel's prime minister on Sunday defended his decision to allow $ 15 million from Qatar to Gaza's Hamas rulers, rejecting criticism that the move had been strengthened by the Islamic militant group.
Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that it was "the right step" at the moment, and that it was committed to restoring peace along the Israel-Gaza border and preventing a humanitarian crisis in the coastal Palestinian territory.
"Every action, without exception, has a price," he said. "If you can not handle the price you can not lead and I can handle the price."
Despite the money's arrival, violence is still a "security incident" in Gaza that had left "a number" killed and wounded. Hamas' Interior Ministry spokesman Iyad al-Bozom provided no further details. The Israeli military said that "an exchange of fire" took place during operational activity in Gaza. It did not provide further details.
Israeli critics, including members of the Netanyahu's hard-line coalition, the author of capitulating to violence and of relief to the embattled Hamas group.
The International backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose forces lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007, angrily accused the U.S. and Israel of being involved in a "conspiracy" to permanently sever Gaza from the West Bank. He promised to take some measures against his Hamas rivals in the coming days.
Hamas leaders in Gaza have described the arrival of $ 15 million, a diplomat, as their first major protector along the perimeter fence.
Hamas has been leading the protests since March 30 in a bid to ease a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade that was imposed in 2007 in order to weaken the militant group. The blockade has led to over 50 percent of the country's economic growth.
Over 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the border protests, in which Palestinians throw rocks, burning tires and grenades towards Israeli troops.
Israel says it is defending its border against militant infiltrations, but its army has come under international criticism because of the large number of unarmed protesters who have been shot.
With Hamas threatening to intensify the protests and international officials warning of a humanitarian crisis, Netanyahu on Thursday allowed the cash in Gaza. It is the first installment of $ 90 million that Hamas employees for six months.
Israeli opposition figures lambasted Netanyahu for appearing to cave in to violence. Armed radio played decade-old sound clips of Netanyahu, when he was the opposition leader, threatening tough action against Hamas and criticizing his predecessor for being too soft.
Even his erstwhile allies attacked him for doing business with a militant group that has fought three wars against Israel and is sworn to Israel's destruction.
"Everyone knows where that money is going to go," said Netanyahu's agriculture minister, Uri Ariel.
But Netanyahu said it was a "question of alternatives." He said the step to be coordinated with security officials to restore calm for Israeli citizens living in Gaza.
Later, in Gaza, Netanyahu said Hamas is in power.
"That's absurd," he said. The alternative is "to the minimum things necessary to maintain our security and to prevent the collapse of the humanitarian situation," he added.
The payment is part of what is expected to be a set of informal understandings between Israel and Hamas achieved through Egyptian and U.N. mediation.
Hamas is demanding an expansion of the permissible fishing zone off the Israeli-controlled Gaza coast, which is one of the most important factors in the world. In return, Israel wants peace and tranquility.
For the second week in a row, the Palestinians kept their hands firmly closed.
In the West Bank, Abbas angrily accused Israel and the U.S. of ganging up behind his back to Hamas' control over Gaza. He also accused Hamas of undermining his goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state that includes all of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Abbas fears that the U.S. is preparing to float a peace plan, called the "Deal of the Century" by President Donald Trump, which would leave Hamas in control of Gaza and give him only limited autonomy in West Bank.
"We are going to take tough measures against Hamas in the coming days," Abbas said.
"There is an American conspiracy, which is the 'Deal of the Century,' and there is an Israeli conspiracy to implement the 'Deal of the Century,'" he said. "To my dismay, there is another conspiracy from Hamas to foil the independent state."
Abbas, speaking at a ceremony marking the 14th anniversary of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, did not elaborate on what steps he might take against Hamas.
Hamas into returning control to him.
In the West Bank, meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians attended the funeral of Mohammed Shreteh, a 27-year-old Palestinian who died of head shots.
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Daraghmeh reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press Writer Fares Akram Contributed from Gaza City, Gaza Strip.
