Hamas, USAID reach Gaza deal

By AGENCIES
Aug 13, 2011

GAZA CITY: Hamas and the USAID have reached a compromise to maintain the flow of aid, a senior Hamas official said Saturday.

USAID suspended its operations in the coastal strip Friday over alleged meddling by Hamas.

Under the agreement, Hamas has renounced for a "three-month period" its demand to verify the accounts of NGOs financed by the US Agency for International Development in the Palestinian territories, the Hamas official said. "We are keen on the continuation of the international institutions' work and their services to our people," he said.

The official, who participated in the mediated talks, said the sides were now working toward an agreement on mechanisms that ensure "transparency and internal accountability of these international organizations." There will be "no control over their work," he added.

But a spokesman for Hamas said foreigners must now obtain visas to enter the Gaza Strip. Ihab Ghussein' said the government must know who is staying in Gaza in order to protect foreigners.

If implemented, the visa demand could complicate the work of international aid groups in Gaza since the US and UN consider Hamas a terrorist organization. As such, many international aid groups are prohibited from having direct contact with Hamas or providing the group with cash.

Source: Arab News.
Link: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article488057.ece.