By Hosea Parah, Abuja
In a recent development in the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel, the Israeli government has decided to withhold 170 million shekels ($45.5 million) of Palestinian tax funds from the Palestine National Authority. The move comes as a response to the Authority’s engagement in unilateral actions and legal battles against Israel in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh,
Ambassador of the Embassy of the State of Palestine on Friday. The Israeli government argues that any entity opposing their fighters and leaders in The Hague should not receive financial assistance. However, this decision contradicts the signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), as well as international law.
According to the statement, the withholding of tax revenue has had severe consequences for the Palestinian Authority, which has struggled to pay its employees their full salaries for several months. This situation further exacerbates the already fragile economic conditions within Palestine, pushing the entire society to the brink of collapse.
The Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Federal Republic of Nigeria is calling upon the international community to take immediate action. They urge the international community to exert legitimate, legal, and diplomatic pressure on the Israeli government to reconsider its current approach, which they describe as a genocidal war and an array of illegal moves.
The Palestinian people continue to suffer from the repercussions of the ongoing conflict, with their daily lives impacted in various ways. It is imperative for the international community to actively engage and address the situation to prevent further deterioration of the already dire circumstances.
As tensions escalate in the region, the international community must not remain passive. It is crucial for global leaders to come together and work towards a peaceful resolution that respects the rights and aspirations of both the Israeli and Palestinian people.