Looking at Qatar’s double game strategy in the past, anything and everything it intends to do with Israel cannot be taken on face value, is the general consensus of political analysts.

While Israel is clearing the rubble and making way for Qatar, the latter is making a huge investment to help develop an industrial zone for the New Gaza Strip.

Media reports have confirmed that a controlled industrial zone funded by Qatar is intended to be built on the Palestinian side by the now-closed Karni crossing, which is forecasted to employ up to 5000 workers. The project was extensively discussed at the security cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within the Gaza Division army base.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, Military Intelligence Chief Tamir Heiman, as well as other high-ranking officers in the security forces.

The project examines the possibility that Israel will permit the entry of dual-use materials into the area, while the activity within the industrial zone will be under surveillance up to the products’ exit through the Kerem Shalom crossing. The hope is that the project may allow some more money to flow into the Gaza Strip.

But what remains worrisome in Qatar’s unstable mind to maintain relations with Israel and Palestinians both. In the past, is has retracted support under the pressure of Arab nations, only to start forming cozy ones with Hamas, the retaliatory group function over the Gaza Strip. Around 2006, Qatar’s friendship thickened with Hamas and Hezbollah. At one conference in Doha in 2006, Qatar invited Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni, only to host Hamas leader Khaled Meshal just a few days later.

As of now, whether it will not want to keep both parties pleased, is something the political leaders world over need to look out for.