Palestinian presidency: Israeli government's continued seizure of PA funds a 'war crime'

The Palestinian presidency said in a statement today that the Israeli government's withholding of Palestinian clearance funds constitutes "piracy and collective punishment" of the Palestinian people, warning of serious consequences across all sectors, particularly the health sector.

In a statement, it condemned the decision to withhold the funds as a "war crime", adding that the US government "also bears direct responsibility for supporting the policy and the continuation of the war and the withholding and the stealing of the funds of the Palestinian people who face aggression, famine and destitution in Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem".