Israel withholding $46m in PA tax revenues: Report
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is reportedly withholding some 170 million shekels ($46m) in tax revenue for the Palestinian Authority, Israel’s Channel 12 reports, quoting anonymous sources close to the far-right politician.
The funds have been withheld for nine days, the source said, with this being done in response to the PA’s attempts to get the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials for alleged violations of international law in Gaza.
Israel, which collects tax revenues on behalf of the PA, has warned that it will initiate a response against the body that will lead to its collapse if the ICC issues arrest warrants.
Hamas’s demand for a 12-week pause major sticking point: Report
Hamas’s demand for an initial 12-week pause in fighting was a major sticking point for Israel during this week’s ceasefire negotiations, CNN reported, citing three sources familiar with the talks.
Delegations from both parties left Egypt without agreeing on a deal, with Hamas stating that Israel “raised objections to [the proposal] on several central issues”, without elaborating.
In an earlier round of talks, Hamas agreed to an initial six-week pause, during which further negotiations would be conducted to agree a second six-week pause.
Israeli officials are said to be staunchly opposed to the 12-week pause, arguing that it would be no different in practice than agreeing to end the war, and are eager to continue their operation in Rafah.
Israeli settlers block aid trucks
Israeli settlers have made it difficult for aid relief to enter through any crossing into Gaza. Although Rafah is the main crossing for aid to enter Gaza, demonstrations by Israeli settlers have added to the stranglehold on life-saving supplies by blocking a road near the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing.
Karem Abu Salem reopened on Wednesday after a Hamas rocket attack. But with the current attacks by Israel’s military, the UN says no Palestinian workers can safely reach the other side to process the goods.
“Jordan has also sent aid trucks to Gaza,” Al Jazeers’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from the Jordanian capital Amman, said. “Some of those have been attacked by Israeli protesters over the past few weeks. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks and said it holds Israel fully responsible and that Israel should ensure aid gets in swiftly and safely to the people of Gaza.
“Those are its legal obligations as the occupying power.”
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