Saturday, March 5, 2011

Closure of banks in Gaza after the seizures of money by Hamas

The banks have lowered their curtain Thursday, March 3 in the Gaza Strip to protest against tough cash seizures occurred this week with the endorsement of Hamas, which controls this part of Palestinian territory, following a quarrel with the Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah (West Bank). The incident occurred Tuesday and Wednesday at the headquarters of the Palestinian Investment Bank (GDP) in Gaza City.

The Palestinian Authority and the Islamist movement Hamas have given conflicting versions of the case. A senior official of the institution Monetary Authority, Mohammed Manasir, "armed men in uniform and protected by the police (of Hamas) stormed into the bank and seized 350,000 dollars." According to the Ministry of Interior of Hamas, he was a police operation to force the bank, who refused to pay in cash a businessman who wanted to withdraw his money.

The GDP and other banking institutions in Gaza - all affiliated to the Palestinian Authority - have closed their doors in protest. Only the Islamic National Bank, an institution linked to Hamas, remained open. Hamas took control of Gaza in June 2007 at the expense of Fatah, the organization of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, after winning the elections a year ago.

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