PA to pay full salaries to more than 900 prisoners

3 years ago

A Palestinian girl wearing a protective mask holds a picture of a Palestinian prisoner during a protest to show their support to prisoners held in Israeli jails, outside the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the West Bank city of Nablus on August 26, 2020. - The UAE's decision to normalise ties with Israel has been welcomed by some Arab countries, but despite cheerleading from the US, others, including the Palestinians, have rejected the idea. Many Palestinians saw the move as a betrayal of their cause by the Gulf country. (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has signed an order to pay the full salaries to more than 900 prisoners and former prisoners, Head of the Prisoners and Ex-prisoners Affairs Authority Qadri Abu Bakr announced yesterday.

On the PA’s recent proposal to establish a private bank for the families of prisoners and martyrs, Abu Bakr confirmed that the move was: “Unlikely to happen due to Israeli threats and restrictions with obtaining the bank licence. The PA is tirelessly looking for alternative options.”

“As a result of the current economic and political situation, the Palestinian government was able to pay only 50 per cent of the prisoners’ wages,” the official noted.

READ: Gaza aid worker attends 154th court hearing in Israel