Abbas Aide Slams Reported U.S. Plans to Raise Funds for Gaza

A Palestinian official has condemned reported U.S. plans to secure Gulf funding for major economic projects in the Gaza Strip.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, alleged Monday that such efforts aim to further separate Gaza and the Arab regions of Yehudah and Shomron. Abbas runs parts of Yehudah and Shomron and the Islamic Hamas terror group controls Gaza.

Israel, citing security, has prevented most travel between the two territories sought for a Palestinian state.

President Donald Trump’s adviser, son-in-law Jared Kushner, is expected to visit Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia this week to discuss the situation in Gaza and the administration’s proposals for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

Abbas halted contacts with the administration in December, after President Trump said he would be moving the U.S. Embassy to Yerushalayim.