Qatar seeks to cement truce between Israel, Gaza factions
Qatar has mediated, along with Egypt and the UN, a cease-fire ending the latest round of hostilities between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, after which it pledged to provide $480 million in support of Palestinians.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — As the dust began to settle May 6 from a major military escalation between Israel and the Gaza Strip, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani promised $480 million in grants and loans to Palestinians.
The financial support was coupled with UN, Egyptian and Qatari diplomatic efforts to halt the brief but bitter exchange. The battle broke out May 3 and subsided May 6, leaving 31 Palestinians dead and 130 residential units in Gaza destroyed. Four Israelis were killed, and dozens were injured by rockets fired into southern Israel.
