A Qatari diplomat working behind the scenes to ease tensions on the Israel-Gaza Strip border suggested that Palestinians would stop their protests and the sending of incendiary kites across the border if Israel were to allow in 5,000 Gazans on work permits.
Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi floated the idea during an interview with Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Sunday.
Israeli and Hamas officials had no immediate comment on the Qatari proposal.
Since late April, the Palestinians have been letting loose incendiary balloons and kites, setting fire to thousands of acres of farmland and forests in Israeli border towns and causing millions of dollars in damage.
At least 136 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops during the Hamas-orchestrated border riot campaign, launched on March 30.
Al-Emadi said that were Israel to let in workers from the Gaza Strip, where unemployment nears 50%, the border protests and kite attacks would cease.
"It could start for example with 5,000 people in Gaza who would work in Israel. That is good. That would stop the protests, the fires, the kites and the balloons," Al-Emadi said.
The envoy added that there was no significant progress in efforts to secure the release of Israelis being held prisoner in Gaza.
Israel has demanded the return of two Israeli civilians who it says crossed into Gaza and are being held by Hamas, as well as the bodies of two soldiers who were killed in a 2014 war. Hamas has confirmed holding them.
