Middle East Eye, 16 June 2017

Israeli academics, analysts and intelligence sources suggest it has more to lose than gain from the crisis

Fighters from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigade, the armed wing of Hamas, at a memorial service for Ibrahim Abu Al-Naja in Rafah (AFP)

Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, is regarded as a daughter movement of the Muslim Brotherhood, a longtime ally of Qatar.

The emirate has transferred hundreds of millions of dollars into Gaza, while assisting Hamas diplomatically by providing asylum for its exiled leaders and members.

[...] After the last war in Gaza in 2014, Qatar committed $1bn towards reconstruction, humanitarian projects, electricity costs and state salaries.

Political analysts say that Israel has permitted the fund transfers into Gaza – which has been under Israeli siege since 2007 - because of their stabilising effect, which prevent or perhaps postpone a total collapse in the war-torn strip.

[...] The sanctions taken against Qatar on 4 June were hailed as a victory by much of the Israeli public and media. But the government's response has been strangely muted.

from http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/what-israel-fears-about-hamas-and-qatar-crisis-906222923