The Palestinian Authority (PA) is angry at Israel for offsetting the funds intended for Gaza from the money that will be transferred to the PA, and are threatening not to accept the money if it does not include the funds for Gaza as well, Channel 13 News reported on Saturday night.
"We reiterate our rejection of the ongoing Israeli attempts to separate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, the latest of which is the deduction of the funds allocated to the Gaza Strip," said PA cabinet leader Mohammad Shtayyeh.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded and said, "I saw a publication this evening according to which the Palestinian Authority is 'threatening' not to take the tax money without the funds intended for Gaza. As someone who opposed the foolish decision to transfer even one shekel to the allies of Hamas, I call on them to be firm in their position and not accept the money."
"The concept that the PA is different from Hamas, while its leaders openly glorify the perpetrators of the massacre of our brothers and sisters and pay salaries to the murderers of our children, must be uprooted. I call on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance not to transfer even a shekel to them," he added.
The Political-Security Cabinet decided on Thursday evening to offset from the funds of the PA all the money intended for the Gaza Strip, in addition to the offset that is carried out, in accordance with the law, of funds paid to terrorists and their families.
However, the decision states that after the offset, Israel will transfer the tax money to the Palestinian Authority during the war.