Hamas rejects Qatari aid to protest Israeli ‘extortion’

<p>By Yaser Albanna</p> <p>GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Hamas on Thursday announced its refusal to accept fresh financial aid from Qatar to protest what it described as “extortion” by Israel.</p> <p>“We are rejecting this third Qatari grant to protest the Israeli occupation’s behavior,” leading Hamas member Khalil al-Hayya said at a press conference in Gaza City.</p> <p>He accused Israel of trying to &quot;extort&quot; the Palestinian people and “evade” understandings reached last year between Israel and Palestinian resistance factions (and brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the UN).</p> <p>According to al-Hayya, Qatar “understands” Hamas' reasons for the decision.</p> <p>On Jan. 7, Israel suspended the transfer of Qatari financial aid that had been allocated to pay public-sector salaries in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.</p> <p>The move came as ostensible retaliation for an alleged rocket attack from the blockaded coastal enclave.</p>