The Palestinian Authority has informed Israel that it will cease to pay the salaries of staff in the besieged Gaza Strip from 1 April further exacerbating the humanitarian and economic crisis in the Strip.

According to Israeli media, PA Minister of Civil Affairs, Hussein Al-Sheikh, spoke to Israel’s Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon by telephone yesterday and warned him that the move could have a negative effect on Israel.

According to a report on Hadashot TV, Kahlon did not agree that the move would “explode on Israel”.

Tens of thousands of employees receive wages from the Palestinian Authority, should this cease unemployment rates which already stand at over 43 per cent will increase.

There have been fears that the situation in the Gaza Strip could explode at any time as Palestinians in the enclave have been forced to live in dire conditions as a result of Israel’s numerous wars, the 11-year siege which has limited supplies, stopped construction and stopped Palestinians from travelling, along with a reduction in aid payments to UNRWA hindering the international organisation’s ability to provide for those most in need.

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