Qatar's Gaza ambassador to speak with Hamas on aid deal

Qatar's Gaza ambassador travelled to the blockaded territory early on Friday for the first time since Doha concluded a deal with the United Nations and Israel on Qatari funds for the Strip.

Mohammed Al-Emadi is in charge of the Qatar Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza.

The Qatari representative is set to speak with Yahya Al-Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza, during his visit, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister service, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, reported.

They will talk about the new arrangement for transferring money to the Strip, which is desperately needed in the wake of May's deadly 11-day Israeli bombing campaign, which destroyed infrastructure and killed 256 Palestinians.

During this same period, Gaza rulers Hamas and other groups' rocket fire claimed 13 lives in Israel.

The United Nation's World Food Programme will be the vehicle for the Qatari money destined for Gaza, Al-Emadi explained when the deal was reached in mid-August.

Approximately 100,000 impoverished Gazan families are set to be given $100 each month.

The money will begin to be released in September.

Tel Aviv had stopped the money from being sent over a three-month period after May's violence in an attempt to "pressure" the enclave, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed said.

In addition to Egypt, which helped arrange the ceasefire in Gaza in May, Al-Emadi is among the most significant intermediaries in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

The Qatari envoy's trip to the besieged enclave follows a recent escalation of violence in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces, which again saw Israel bomb the area following the launch of fire balloons, which are intended to force Israel into loosening its blockade, according to Palestinians.

Protests in Gaza, which has been under siege since 2006, have also turned deadly recently, including on Saturday, when a 12-year-old boy died after he was shot by Israeli security the week prior.