Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa yesterday called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Israel and exert more pressure on it to release withheld Palestinian taxes, reports Anadolu Agency. This came during a meeting with Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.
Mustafa also called on EU member states to pressure Israel to respect international law, stop its deductions from Palestinian tax revenues and release all withheld funds.
According to the Anadolu report, since the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Tel Aviv has deducted more than 400 million shekels ($109 million) from the tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA.
The deducted amounts include funds which are allegedly allocated for the payment of the wages of Gaza employees as well as unpaid electricity, water and medical service bills owed by the Palestinian Authority to Israeli companies and hospitals.
“These steps will help pave the way for a political process aimed at ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state.”
For his part, Bettel affirmed his country’s support for efforts to stop the hostility, release prisoners and detainees, end the humanitarian suffering in Gaza, and de-escalate the situation across the region.
He also emphasised his support for the Palestinian people’s right to an independent state, continued financial support for UNRWA and the full implementation of UN resolutions
