Hamas orders Gaza banks to pay up $100 mn

[oberliner]

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — The Hamas rulers of Gaza have ordered two banks to pay out more than $100 million following a lower court ruling, bank bosses told AFP on Friday.

A board member from the Islamic Bank of Palestine said that following the decision, $6 million of his bank's assets had been preventively frozen and $100 million from the Bank of Palestine.

The court decision also barred board members from either bank from leaving the Gaza Strip, the source said asking not to be named.

The banker denounced the decision, saying: "All banks in Gaza pay no taxes in accordance with an exemption extended in 2007 by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas."

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