New batch of PA employees in Gaza forced to retire
The Palestinian Authority referred more than 6,000 civil employees to early retirement, allegedly to exert pressure on Hamas to dissolve the administrative committee, hand over the Gaza Strip and approve elections.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian government decided July 4 to refer 6,145 civil employees in the Gaza Strip to early retirement.
In an official statement, the government described this move as a temporary measure that may be lifted when Hamas waives its control of the Gaza Strip and accepts the conditions set by President Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas had set as conditions for reconciliation disbanding the administrative committee in Gaza and enabling the government of national consensus from assuming its full responsibilities and preparing for the general elections.
Tariq Rishmawi, a spokesman for the government of national consensus, told Al-Monitor, “The government decided to refer 6,145 employees from Gaza to early retirement as a complementary step to its previous and future measures aimed to pressure Hamas to end the division.”
