Qatar donors admit most Gaza cement goes to black market (=Hamas)

The president of the Qatari National Committee for the Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, Ambassador Mohammed Al-Emadi, admits that the mechanism for rebuilding Gaza by giving cement directly to Gazans has failed.

In his assessment of the UN mechanism to bring the building materials to Gaza, Al-Emadi said it was "unfortunate and non-effective... because 90% of those affected have sold the quantities of cement they have received on the black market without starting the reconstruction of their homes," and it would have been better to give them the money directly instead of cement.

Reconstruction of terror tunnels and military bases has been proceeding apace even as individual houses, according to Hamas and Islamic Jihad statements, even as houses remain in ruins.

"We need large quantities of cement for each project, and we need materials for brick factories and other factories. The mechanism must be different so [the materials] are delivered to the contracting companies and not to the citizens."

He says that a new mechanism is going to be put into place where building projects of international agencies are directly supplied with construction materials. A new initiative where Israel will allow 1000 tons a day for Qatari-funded construction projects will start next Wednesday.

Surprisingly, even as he emphasized that Qatar is not negotiating directly with Israel to bring aid to Gaza, Emadi praised Israel's efforts, saying that he sensed a serious intention by Israel for the reconstruction of Gaza and to improve living conditions.

Expressing frustration over previous failed efforts to help Gaza, Emadi also said "Qatar paid more than $100 million for Gaza electricity over 3 years through Egypt and the PA, and the whole amount went down the drain."

Qatar has been building 2,000 housing units in Sheikh Hamad and 500 houses elsewhere, as well as some other reconstruction projects.

Qatar has pledged $1 billion for Gaza, including $200 million to the PA that Emadi claims are earmarked to be spent in Gaza.