Funds for reconstructing the war torn Gaza Strip have dried up to the point where the UN has already halted its work due to a lack of money.
What has happened to the vast sums promised by donor countries after the conclusion of the latest war last summer?
“Some donors say why sponsor Israeli wars in Gaza every two years,” Mustafa said. “Some donor countries are concerned because of the atmosphere on the ground … because the reconstruction is not possible without enabling the (Palestinian) government to take the lead in all aspect of life in Gaza.”
And Hamas has refused to allow the PA to extend its security reach into the coastal enclave as per their earlier agreement.
So with little funds for reconstruction, paying civil service workers, or providing aid to its citizens where does Hamas spend what little money available to it?
Towards building more rockets of course.
A senior Hamas military official said Monday his Palestinian Islamist group which controls Gaza is rebuilding its heavily depleted rocket arsenal in case of fresh conflict with Israel.
"Any regional or international attempt to lay siege to Hamas or its armed wing is bound to fail," said Marwan Eissa, a commander of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades armed wing.
.
Note the implied threat to the PA should they make an effort to demilitarize Gaza. According to the agreement signed by Hamas the PA was due to regain security control of Gaza including not only borer control but also internal security. The only successful path to achieve this would be for Hamas to either turn its security forces over to control of the unity government or to disarm outright. Hamas has done neither which prevents the PA from establishing security for Gaza which prevents donors from contributing to the rebuilding.
Instead of allowing the security to be turned over so that rebuilding from donor aid could continue, Hamas uses what little funds available to not help rebuild Gaza, but to rebuild its military threat instead.