To aid reconstruct Gaza

This is not the first time the Gaza Strip is destroyed by an Israeli aggression. It was destroyed repeatedly, and each time loud voices were asking (others) to finance the reconstruction of the devastated strip.

Those others used to respond positively and announce very generous commitments of hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. Time would pass, however, and the promised funds would never actually be paid.

The ready excuse used in the past, and no doubt used at this time, is that it does not make sense to rebuild something if it continues to be exposed to yet another round of destruction by Israel.

Donors conveniently claim that they are ready to honour their financial commitments if and when they have sound assurances of a durable peace that gives reconstruction meaning.

They have a point.

On the other hand, some donors are not ready to transfer funds to Hamas in particular. Hamas’ relations with several key Arab countries are not good, especially with Egypt, without which no meaningful Arab collective movement is possible, and with major Gulf states, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose treasuries can fund Gaza.

Hamas is blamed for getting involved in inter-Arab politics, taking a negative position vis-à-vis the new regime of Egypt. It behaves as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood and, as such, is accused by Egypt of supporting terrorism, especially in northern Sinai Peninsula.

Hamas is also blamed for going too far in joining the Qatar-Turkey axis, two countries that are in bad relations with most Arab countries due to their alleged support for terrorists in Syria, Iraq and Libya. Moreover, Al Jazeera TV channel, as a political instrument, did not leave any friend for Qatar.

To solve the problem, Hamas must willingly step down in favour of the Palestinian government of national unity, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, which should temporarily relocate to Gaza and exercise full authority on the strip, with no competition from Hamas, as long as this government enjoys the support of all Palestinian factions, including Hamas.

Such arrangement will not only facilitate the actual payment of the donations badly needed for the reconstruction efforts, it will also guarantee the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt if and when the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, becomes responsible on the Palestinian side of the gate.

Two thousand Gazan martyrs may not be enough to liberate Palestine, but they are more than enough to revive and reactivate the Palestinian cause in a way to make the establishment of the independent Palestinian state inevitable.