Palestine rejects Israeli court ruling on Palestinian Authority

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh speaks during a joint press conference with Libya's interim prime minister in the Libyan capital Tripoli, on Feb 14, 2022. (MAHMUD TURKIA / AFP)

RAMALLAH/UNITED NATIONS – Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye on Monday told the Palestinian cabinet that the Israeli court's decision on the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a supporter of terrorism "is rejected."

On Sunday, Israeli media reported that the High Court of Justice ruled the PA can be held liable for "terrorist acts" due to its controversial policy of paying stipends to security prisoners in Israeli jails and the families of those killed in attacks on Israelis.

"The government's support for the families is not supporting terrorism; rather, it is our duty towards the orphan sons of martyrs and the prisoners and their families who need all our help," Ishtaye said.

Israeli media reported that the High Court of Justice ruled the PA can be held liable for "terrorist acts" due to its controversial policy of paying stipends to security prisoners in Israeli jails and the families of those killed in attacks on Israelis

"The claim of the Israeli court is unacceptable, illegal and illegitimate, considering the court to be "one of the tools of the occupation," he told the weekly meeting of the cabinet held in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

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On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced grave concern over the recent escalation in Palestinian-Israeli tensions, said his spokesman.

"The secretary-general is following with deep concern the escalating violence in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel. He is appalled by the increasingly high number of casualties, including women and children," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman.

Guterres reiterated that children must never be the target of violence or put in harm's way. The Israel Defence Forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only as a last resort when it is strictly unavoidable in order to protect life, said the spokesman.

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The United Nations will continue to work with all sides to de-escalate the situation, said Dujarric.