Al Mezan Condemns the Prevention of PA Employees from Withdrawing Salaries; Calls for Negotiating Resolution to Government’s Divided Bodies

After clashes between Palestinian Authority (PA) employees and Gaza government employees took place on the evening of Wednesday, 4 June 2014, the PA employees were not allowed to withdraw their salaries via ATM machines around the Gaza Strip.
The following morning, Thursday, 5 June, the banks remained closed and the PA employees were again prevented from accessing their salaries.
The clashes on Wednesday began when the Gaza government employees tried to prevent the PA employees from accessing the banks in protest against not receiving their own salaries.
The police intervened and prevented the PA employees from reaching the ATM machines.
A spokesperson at the Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza stated that the clashes between the employees taking place in front of the banks required police intervention for the safety of the citizens and to prevent damage to the banks.
The head of the Monetary Fund stated to Al Mezan that the banks remained ready to function at full capacity; however, the police of Gaza required the banks to close and suspend services.
The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights regrets that the issues arising from the internal governmental split have been acted out on the streets of Gaza, affecting the citizens of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mezan asserts that accessing a salary is a guaranteed right and that employees should not be prevented from their access unless in accordance with law regulations.
Al Mezan also asserts the right of the Gaza government employees to receive their monthly salaries.
The problem must be solved as soon as possible so that employees do not bear the consequences of the internal split.
The police and law enforcement officers should intervene to ensure the respect of the law; employees should not be prevented from accessing their salaries by force.
Al Mezan asserts the right of employees to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
Al Mezan points out that using violence and force in demonstrations is in violation of Palestinian laws and human rights principles.
Protestors should not unlawfully dictate how other people behave or prevent them from accessing their own bank accounts.
Al Mezan calls on President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian political bodies, including Fatah and Hamas, to work to resolve the issue of salary distribution and to ensure that all other files are in order to have a united political system that is better able to address the needs and rights of the Palestinian people.
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