Palestinians in Gaza say bank account closures cut off access to vital funds
Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza have accused the Bank of Palestine of freezing or closing their accounts without adequate explanation, leaving them unable to access salaries, aid and personal savings.
Several account holders told Middle East Eye they were unable to access funds needed to pay rent, buy essentials and support their families after discovering their accounts had been restricted or shut down.
They said they received little or no explanation from the bank and were given no clear pathway to challenge the decisions.
Due to the chronic liquidity shortage in Gaza and widespread deterioration of banknotes, many Palestinians rely heavily on banking applications and digital wallets to access and transfer money.
Ahmed Sardah told MEE that he was trying to transfer money through the bank's mobile application when he discovered his account had been closed. He later learned that his PalPay and Jawwal Pay wallets had also been suspended.
Read more: Palestinians in Gaza say bank account closures cut off access to vital funds
A Palestinian street vendor sells bread at a market in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on 27 February 2025 (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP)