A member of the West Bank Liberties Committee has claimed that the Palestinian Authority continues to deny passports to Palestinians living in Gaza. Speaking to Safa Agency on Sunday, Khalil Assaf said that the ban was imposed by the security services and it precludes the issue of passports from the Interior Ministry in Ramallah.

Sources in the Gaza Strip reported that about 500 people have been denied passports as a result of the security decision. A list of passport applications has been submitted to the Liberties Committee in an attempt to overcome this problem.

According to Assaf, blocking passport applications is both illegal and politicised. He noted that the rescinding of the decision depends on the resolution of outstanding reconciliation issues between the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the context of the split between Fatah and Hamas.

– Read more: Ramallah PA Continues to Deny Passports to Gaza Residents – Middle East Monitor