RAMALLAH, April 26 (Xinhua) — Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa said on Sunday that the Gaza ceasefire has not been fully implemented, while accusing Israel of imposing an “economic siege” on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to hinder the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Speaking to reporters in the West Bank city of al-Bireh, Mustafa said the ceasefire “is not 100 percent complete,” noting that incidents continue to occur in the enclave on a daily basis.
Mustafa stressed the urgent need to open all crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid and relief supplies, followed by materials necessary for reconstruction.
He expressed hope that Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza as soon as possible.
Despite the ceasefire, which has been in effect since Oct. 10, tensions persist in the Gaza Strip amid reported Israeli airstrikes. Key provisions of the agreement, including aid delivery and military withdrawal, remain stalled.
Meanwhile, Mustafa accused Israel of intensifying political, security, and economic pressure on the West Bank, alongside continued settlement activity.
He said Israel has withheld Palestinian clearance revenues for the past year, adding: “We are living without our income from customs and taxes collected by Israel on our behalf.”
He described the measure as “economic occupation,” saying the Palestinian leadership is working with international parties to pressure Israel to release the funds.
Since late 2021, the PA has been unable to pay full salaries to public sector employees, with payments ranging between 50 percent and 80 percent of monthly wages. ■
