Fayyad’s office did not specify the amount seized from his non-profit Future for Palestine organization, but told AFP he would take legal action to ensure the money was returned, without saying if he would directly sue the PA.

Palestinian media quoted an anonymous security services official as saying it was “suspected that the funds seized were to be used for political means”, without elaborating, and that the case was now in the hands of the public prosecutor.

Fayyad resigned from the premiership in 2013 after six years in the post, over disputes with PA head and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

He founded Future for Palestine in 2013 with the aim of supporting development projects in the Palestinian territories.