Officials of several Islamic charities in the Gaza Strip said Thursday that 39 of their bank accounts have been frozen by the Palestinian Authority.
The move was revealed Thursday, after hundreds of Palestinians relying on welfare tried to pick up their
monthly support checks. They were told by banks that they
would not receive money, and that the accounts had been
frozen.
The heads of the charities were given the same message by
the banks. The Associated Press said the funds were frozen by the Palestinian Monetary Authority.
Amir Abu Omarein, director of Al Mujamma Al Islami, said the freezing of funds will hurt the poorest among the Palestinians. He said his charity supports some 3,000 people, including the families of Palestinian prisoners, those who were wounded in fighting with Israel and orphans.
The Palestinian Authority has been under growing U.S. pressure to take action against Islamic groups, mainly Hamas and Islamic Jihad. (Albawaba.com)
