Abbas stops funding Gaza electricity to ‘dry up’ cash flow to Hamas

The Palestinian Authority will stop paying for electricity in the power-starved Gaza Strip and “dry up” the flow of funds to the territory’s Hamas rulers, a senior official says.

Hussein al-Sheikh, head of the PA Civil Affairs Department, says the terrorist group profits because it collects electricity payments from Gaza residents. “We are not going to continue financing the Hamas coup in Gaza,” he tells the Voice of Palestine radio station.

Al-Sheikh says the aim is to “dry up Hamas’ financial resources.” He says efforts would be made not to harm services to Gaza residents, but did not elaborate.

Meanwhile Abbas aide Ahmed Majdalani says that as a next step, the West Bank government would sharply reduce the amount of medicine it ships to Gaza every month. Majdalani alleges that Hamas is “selling the medicine and collecting the money.”

He says that only “necessary medicine” would be sent directly to Gaza hospitals.

— with AP