Hamas employees get paid from Palestinian unity government

Around 24,000 employees who were employed by Islamic Hamas movement after seizing control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 were paid by the Palestinian unity government Tuesday in cash 1,200 U.S. dollars each.
Mohamed Seyyam, chairman of Gaza employees' union, told Xinhua that paying the delayed salaries to Gaza Strip's employees "is a positive step but still not enough because it excluded the security and police employees."
The payment is part of their unpaid delayed salaries since May. The employees will receive more by the end of November until all their unpaid salaries are covered and then they will be paid monthly normal as usual on time.
Tens of thousands of employees working in various ministries were seen on Tuesday morning standing in front of the post offices, and each of them got the cash of 1,200 dollars.
On Monday, the cash money was brought to the Gaza Strip through Erez Crossing point between the enclave and Israel.
Security forces of the government secured the entrance of the vehicle that carried the money into the Gaza Strip and the money will be delivered during Tuesday.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who visited Gaza in mid October announced that the crisis of the salaries of Gaza employees had been resolved and they will get paid by end of the month.
Rami Hamdallah, premier of the consensus government, stated during the weekly meeting of his cabinet held in both Ramallah and Gaza via the video that on Tuesday, 24,000 employees will get cash of 1,200 dollars each.
"Our demands are not to pay parts of the delayed salaries, but to pay all the previous salaries to all employees, including the civil and security servants and employees, and then pay everyone regular salaries according to their payroll," said Seyyam.