Israel sanctions freed Palestinian prisoners over PA funds

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued sanctions on Tuesday against freed Palestinian prisoners and their family members who received payments from the Palestinian Authority (PA), Anadolu has reported.

Katz’s officials said that the penalties apply to “citizens and residents of the State of Israel,” in reference to Arab-Israelis and Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem, which has been annexed — illegally — by the occupation regime.

After the order, Israeli forces raided the homes of several freed Palestinians and seized property and cash, according to the Israeli officials. There was no immediate comment from the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority.

On 10 February, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree overturning a system of social security payments to the families of Palestinians held, injured and killed by Israeli forces, after years of pressure from Israel and the US.

Over 1,100 Palestinians have been freed from Israeli jails in return for 25 Israeli captives and four bodies under a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. Last week, Israel refused to release 620 more Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire agreement citing what it called “degrading handover ceremonies.”

The ceasefire agreement took effect last month, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed nearly 48,350 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war against Palestinians in the enclave.

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