RAMALLAH, Tuesday, October 15, 2019 (WAFA) – The Ministry of Interior (MoI) denied today claims made by Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) that it has frozen or canceled the bank accounts of a number of civil society organization in the Gaza Strip.

Director General of NGOs and Public Affairs in the Ministry of Interior, Abdul Nasser Serafi, said in a statement that the MoI is not the party that can ask banks operating in Palestine to close or freeze any bank account of any registered association or organization.

He explained that the role of the ministry is ed to granting a letter of credit to a financial committee for the association for the purpose of opening a bank account.

Otherwise, the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) is the party in charge of bank operations and inspections to make sure they comply with the provisions of the law as well as its regulations, decisions and instructions, said Serafi.

He stressed that the only body responsible for following up on accounts with banks operating in Palestine is the PMA.

Serafi denounced the PNGO statement as fake news that aims to complicate the situation.

K.T./M.K.