The Israeli government wants to send workers from the Gaza Strip, who have been stuck in Israel since the start of the war, back to the closed area. Moreover, Palestinians from there are no longer allowed to come to Israel to work.
The measure was approved by the security cabinet on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. Before the major attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists and other extremists on October 7, it was common for thousands of Palestinians to enter Israel with special permits and work there.
Jobs in Israel should create security in the region
Many worked in agriculture or construction. Israel wanted to use these economic incentives to provide a way out of poverty in the Gaza Strip, reduce the number of Islamists ruling there and thus create greater security in the region. About half of the 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip are unemployed.
Many workers are being held at an army base
According to media reports, hundreds or even several thousand employees are affected. According to Israeli media reports, some of them are now in the West Bank. Many are also being held at an army base. It was initially unclear how people would return to the Gaza Strip.
Payments to Gaza are canceled
The security cabinet also wants to deduct funds intended for the Gaza Strip from payments to the Palestinian Authority (PA). It was not clear from the statement whether Israel would now resume the remaining millions in payments to the autonomous authority in the West Bank.
Observers say some workers from the Gaza Strip may have provided information to Hamas, making the October 7 massacres in Israeli border towns possible.
The amount now withheld is the equivalent of almost 24 million euros. Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced earlier this week that he would temporarily freeze payments to the PA for allegedly supporting the October 7 attack by Islamist terrorists.
Criticism: Payments also serve to prevent terrorism
Smotrich justified his demand for a payment freeze, among other things, with statements from representatives of the Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who described the terrorist act as part of the ‘armed resistance’ against the Israeli occupation. However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant criticized the withholding of funds because the PA also needed the money to prevent terrorism. According to Israeli media reports, the US had also pressured the PA not to cut off its funding.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
