Ma’an quotes Yediot Aharonot with a list of Hamas’ demands from Israel to stop the many incendiary balloons from being launched that are causing massive fires in Israel.
Hamas leaders told Egyptian mediators that they want a commitment for Israel to approve economic infrastructure projects related to electricity and water, something Israel never objects to.
In addition, Hamas has demanded that Israel allow Gaza to increase imports and export, keep the Kerem Shalom crossing open, and increase the fishing zone to 20 miles.
Most notable is Hamas’ demand that Israel increase the number of work permits for workers from Gaza to 100,000.
At the same time that Mahmoud Abbas is trying to minimize the number of Palestinian workers in Israel, Hamas wants to increase them.
Israel had been quietly increasing the number of work permits for Gazans every month before COVID-19. Israeli jobs pay double what jobs in the Palestinian Authority pay, and probably at least triple what jobs in Gaza pay, so 100,000 workers would mean a huge boost in Gaza’s economy – and a huge boost in Hamas’ budget.
Suddenly, BDS is not so important to Hamas.
It is also notable that Hamas is demanding that Qatar double the amount of aid it gives to poor Gaza families. Qatar’s response should be quite interesting.