220 Palestinians killed by Israel in 2022

By Awad al-Rujoub

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – More than 220 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces this year, Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on Tuesday.

Addressing a Cabinet meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Shtayyeh said nearly 832 Palestinian-owned buildings have also been demolished by Israel this year.

He described 2022 as "full of pain" for Palestinians "during which more than 220 Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers, more than 9,000 were wounded, 6,500 were detained, 832 buildings were demolished, and 13,000 olive trees were uprooted."

Shtayyeh said his government has managed to achieve a 3.6% growth rate.

According to the premier, the unemployment rate in the occupied West Bank dropped from 19% to 12.6%, while it remained at 46% in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

Shtayyeh voiced hope that the flow of international aid and donations, especially from Arab countries, will be restored in 2023.

The Palestinian Authority was unable to pay more than 80% of the salary for public sector employees over the past year due to Israeli deductions from Palestinian tax revenues.

The tax revenues – known in Palestine and Israel as maqasa – are collected by the Israeli government on behalf of the Palestinian Authority on Palestinian imports and exports. Israel in return earns a commission of 3% of collected revenues.

The collected revenues are estimated at around $30-33 million every month, representing the main source of income to the Palestinian Authority.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar