President Donald Trump‘s administration has stopped all funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces as part of the global freeze on foreign aid, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The funding cut, reported by The Washington Post, comes at a critical time as the PA struggles to maintain stability in the occupied West Bank and prepare for a potential role in governing Gaza.
Brigadier General Anwar Rajab, spokesperson for the PA security forces, acknowledged that US funding had been a key pillar in supporting security training programs.
While some international donors have stepped in to offset the shortfall, a Palestinian security training official revealed that certain programs have already been cancelled, and a planned security meeting with US officials regarding operations in Jenin has been postponed.
The funding freeze adds additional strains to the PA’s financial crisis. The administration of President Mahmoud Abbas has been unable to pay full public sector salaries since November 2021, largely due to Israel withholding customs duties collected on behalf of the Palestinian government.
The occupied Palestinian territories remain heavily reliant on Israel for trade, with nearly all imports and exports passing through Israeli-controlled crossings.
Meanwhile, Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank, ongoing since 21 January, have killed more than 55 Palestinians and displaced thousands, according to Palestinian officials.
The violence is part of an escalating crackdown that has intensified since Israel’s war on Gaza began on 7 October 2023.
At least 917 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 wounded in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
