Since Israel’s offensive on Gaza started in October last year, Israeli authorities have deducted nearly $694m from the tax revenues allocated for Gaza, Al Jazeera quotes the Palestinian finance ministry as saying.

Under interim bilateral peace agreements signed in the early 1990s, Israel collects taxes and customs on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and transfers them to the latter on a monthly basis.

Although Gaza is governed by Hamas, the PA continues to fund essential areas of the blockaded enclave’s budget, including paying the salaries of health workers.

In a statement carried by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, the finance ministry said: “These deductions are part of Israel’s strategy to pressure the PA to stop paying salaries to employees and pensions to retirees in Gaza.”

“These financial measures are part of Israel’s broader pressure campaign against the PA, impacting its ability to meet its financial obligations to its citizens, particularly in these challenging times.”