Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich has disclosed that he ordered a halt to transfer of funds to the Palestinian Authority (PA) due to what he claims, their “support” for Hamas’ October 7 attack.
In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Smotrich was quoted by the Israeli media as saying, “I would like to inform you that I have instructed the Finance Ministry to stop the transfer of payments this month.”
The Finance Minister also requested that the cabinet re-evaluate Israel’s policy of transferring funds collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority — as set out by the Oslo Accords — in light of “senior PA officials’ support for the horrific massacres of the Nazi terrorist organization Hamas.”
Israel collects taxes on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and transfers make monthly transfers after subtracting the expenses for services, such as electricity and water.
“The PA has once again proven the fact, about which we have been raising our voices for years, that it is a terror-supporting organization,” Smotrich wrote in the letter.
“Therefore, beyond the connection of these funds to the Gaza Strip and its residents, these funds are used for activities against the State of Israel and its citizens.
“It is inconceivable that in this reality, we will continue to transfer these funds as if nothing has happened.”
Bezalel Smotrich
At least 8,306 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.
The figure includes 3,457 children, 2,136 women and 480 elderly people.
At least 21,048 people have been injured.
1,950 people remain missing, including 1,050 children.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health spokesperson in Gaza, Ashraf al-Qudra stated that at least 124 medical personnel have been killed and 25 ambulances are out of service due to Israeli attacks and a lack of fuel in the besieged enclave.
Ashraf al-Qudra added that 32 medical medical centres were also out of service.
Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza City reported receiving threats by the Israeli army over the phone telling them to evacuate as bombing continues but there are no safe routes.
Gaza’s civil defence staff, including ambulances, were unable to reach the areas targeted by Israeli air strikes because the roads have been destroyed.
Areas around al-Quds Hospital continuously being targeted by Israeli air strikes.
The neighbourhoods near Salah al-Din Street need immediate aid but civil defence was unable to reach the area due to heavy Israeli air strikes.
The Israeli army said that it has continued its ground operations in the Gaza Strip for the past few hours.
Israeli soldiers, along combat helicopters and drones, have been clashed with Palestinian fighters, the military disclosed, adding that it destroyed Hamas’s infrastructures, including antitank and launch positions.
Four senior Hamas’s commanders, including the head of the group’s naval force have been killed, the army said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Calls For Ceasefire
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh has demanded the opening of safe humanitarian corridors in Gaza to bring in food, medicine, water and fuel.
“We raise our voice loudly, stop the war on our people,” he said at the start of a weekly government meeting.
Shtayyeh noted that twenty aid trucks per day were not enough for the people of Gaza to meet their basic needs.
The UN’s relief agency said on Sunday, October 29, 2023, that thousands of Palestinians, desperate due to three weeks of total siege and bombing, broke into several of its warehouses in the Gaza Strip, taking wheat, flour and other basic goods.
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