Palestinians Attack Qatari Ambassador in Gaza, Hamas Apologizes
Tuesday, 20 February, 2018 - 07:15
Ramallah - Asharq Al-Awsat
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1181206/palestinians-attack-qatari-ambassador-gaza-hamas-apologizes

Palestinians in Gaza Strip attacked the Qatari ambassador Mohammed al-Emadi
after his press conference at Dar al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza to announce the
details of the Emiri Qatari grant, and they forced him to leave under direct
threat to his life.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that one of the cleaning workers in one of
Gaza's hospitals asked Emadi after the conference about the fate of their
salaries given that they had not received any payment for the fifth month in
a row.

The ambassador told the striking workers, most of them hospital staff, that
the Palestinian Authority was the only party authorized to discuss the issue
of their unpaid salaries.

He indicated that this is not an issue related to his country, adding:
"There are contracts between the employees and the companies with whom they
work and there are contracts with the Ministry of Health and it should pay
salaries. This has nothing to do with the Qatari grant."

The ambassador's response angered the workers who were hoping to receive
help. They threw shoes at the ambassador before he was taken from the
premises by security forces.

Sources said that Emadi was not hit directly, but the workers tore pictures
of the Emir of Qatar in the place, along with banners thanking Qatar for its
financial aid to Gaza.

Officials of the Ministry of Health in Gaza ordered the workers of the
cleaning companies to attend the conference of Emadi, carrying the banners
and pictures in an attempt to attract more support. The officials were also
hoping to resolve the crisis that has been ongoing for more than two weeks,
causing an environmental disaster in hospitals as a result of the
accumulation of wastes.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that the ministry's officials and a number of Hamas
officially apologized to the Qatari ambassador.