GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) on July 31 announced new regulations for the licensing of payment service companies. The new requirements, whose implementation was called for by the 2018 National Plan for the Promotion of the Use of Electronic Payment Systems, should help solve a problem many Palestinians in Gaza face in receiving payments for work performed online.

Hundreds of young Gazans have encountered obstacles having fees or remittances transferred to banks inside Gaza or wired via e-payment cards. Some have experienced delays in payment, while others have lost jobs as a result.

In the statement announcing the new regulations, PMA Governor Azzam al-Shawwa noted the goal of developing and expanding payment methods — that is, money movement and payment services — through safe and secure e-payment system infrastructure and tools. On June 5, the Palestinian government had approved the national plan, which was developed in light of banks having problems obtaining foreign currency, as well as shekels, from Israel due to its 11-year-long siege against Gaza.

Yahya Salha, a graphic designer, and six other Palestinians used to work remotely for a Saudi company, which he declined to name. They were terminated because their employer could not transfer their earnings money to banks in Gaza.