A U.S. charity reopened in Gaza just days after Hamas had suspended its operations and the U.S. threatened to withdraw more than $100 million in aid to Gaza.

Robert Serry, U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East, said in a statement released Aug. 14 that he welcomed the reopening of the International Medical Corps in Gaza. The statement said that Sperry “recognizes the important work of NGOs [non-governmental organizations] in Gaza and is confident that a way forward has been reached in the interest of the people of Gaza.”

On Aug. 11, the State Department had said it would withdraw the aid to Gaza if Hamas leaders did not end demands to audit American charities working there. The withdrawal, if enacted, would affect spending in Gaza on health care, agriculture and water infrastructure.

The State Department message, reported by the New York Times, came after Hamas suspended operations of the International Medical Corps a week earlier for refusing to submit to an audit conducted by Hamas.

A Hamas official announced Aug. 13 that it had reached a compromise with USAID through the United Nations to keep aid coming into Gaza. — jta