CAIRO: The 35 million dollars left behind in Egypt by Palestinian premier Ismail Haniya after Israel closed the Gaza crossing was deposited into an Arab League account Monday, Egypt s Mena agency said.
The 35 million dollars which was carried by prime minister Ismail Haniya as he was returning from his foreign trip, has been deposited in an Arab League bank account, Ghazi Hamad, the Islamist group s spokesman, was quoted as saying by Mena at the Rafah border crossing – the only crossing into the Gaza Strip which bypasses Israel.
Hamad said that talks are currently under way to coordinate the transfer of the funds and other forms of financial assistance to the Palestinian people.
He called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene to lift the blockade on the Palestinians.
Last week, Israel closed the Egypt-Rafah border crossing to prevent Haniya from crossing into the Gaza Strip with the money, sparking a storming of the border terminal by dozens of armed Hamas supporters.
Palestinian officials have resorted to personally bringing large amounts of money into the Palestinian territories in suitcases after the United States, the European Union and Israel cut off direct aid to the government when Hamas formed a cabinet in March.
The donors said the boycott would not be lifted until the Islamists renounce violence and recognize Israel and past peace deals.
