GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Officials of several Islamic charities in the Gaza Strip said Thursday that 36 of their bank accounts have been frozen by the Palestinian Authority, in what appeared to be part of a possible crackdown on militant groups.

Palestinian Authority officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Haaretz reported Wednesday that the PA general prosecutor notified on Sunday the directors of 12 Islamic charity organizations operating in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank that more than 30 of their bank accounts in the territories had been frozen.

Banks received instructions not to allow transactions of organizations such as al-Mujma Al-Islami, which gave birth in the 1980s to Hamas, and other organizations connected to the civilian wing of Hamas.

Nonetheless, hundreds of Palestinians relying on welfare tried to pick up their monthly support checks, apparently unaware that the accounts had been frozen. They were told by banks that they would not receive money, and that the accounts had been frozen.

The heads of the charities were given the same message by the banks.

The funds were frozen by the Palestinian Monetary Authority, according to a copy of the order obtained by The Associated Press. Authority officials declined comment.

UK charity authority freezes Palestinian bank account

Britain's charity authority has frozen the bank accounts of a Palestinian aid organization that the United States last week charged with funding the radical Palestinian group Hamas.

The Charity Commission said Wednesday it had opened a formal investigation into the affairs of Interpal - the Palestinian Relief and Development Fund - and had frozen the accounts held in its name. "This action follows concerns received alleging the charity's links to Hamas political-militant activities," a commission spokeswoman said, adding that the charity was not being closed down and that it would be able to continue its work under commission supervision...