Hamas shakedown: Pay us $15 million or else

Hamas has presented Israel with an ultimatum — cough up $15 million by Thursday, or we will escalate violence on the border. 

By Jack Gold, World Israel News

Hamas has presented Israel with a new ultimatum, demanding that Israel inject $15 million in cash to Gaza every month, or the terror group will escalate its violence on the border with Israel, Israel’s Kan news reported Saturday.

In a demand relayed to Israel through Egypt, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar insisted that the Qatari funds meant to pay the salaries of Palestinian government employees in Gaza be given directly to Hamas in cash.

He threatened that if the money is not transferred by Thursday, Hamas will intensify the riots on Israel’s border, the report said.

Hamas’ demand is intended to circumvent the Israeli coordination and supervision mechanism, and essentially provide the terror group with funds to use at its own discretion.

If Israel responds to the request, a change in the status quo will enable Hamas to channel the money directly to terrorist activity. Israel is currently considering how to respond to the new demand, and has yet to formulate or give an official response to the issue, the report said.

Responding to the news, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during the weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israel would never accept such an ultimatum.

“We heard yesterday about Hamas’ supposed ultimatum, and Israel will not accept any ultimatum from Hamas – we will continue to act in the Israeli interest and for Israeli security only,” Netanyahu said.

The Ministry of Defense on Sunday allowed the opening of the Kerem Shalom Crossing for the passage of goods from Israel to the Gaza Strip, less than 24 hours after Islamic Jihad terrorists, acting on orders from Iran, fired some 40 rockets at Israeli civilian targets in the south.

The Iron Dome defense system intercepted 13 projectiles, while the rest exploded in open spaces, causing no injuries or damage.

The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the weekend attack and announced that it had agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Egypt, but a senior security source made it clear that Israel was not obligated to this ceasefire.

The security cabinet is slated to meet this afternoon in wake of the weekend’s violence.