BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The union of Palestinian civil servants said Sunday that it would resume strike action if February salaries are not paid soon.

Bassam Zakarneh, the head of the union, told Ma'an that public sector employees will prepare for partial strike action if the PA does not answer their inquiries about when wages will be paid.

The PA has been in a financial crisis fueled by shortfalls in foreign aid, renewed tensions with Israel and a need to meet an expanding public sector payroll.

In the past few months, it has failed to pay full salaries to its 160,000 employees in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.

Israel withheld tax revenues it collects for the Palestinian Authority after President Mahmoud Abbas secured UN de facto statehood recognition in November, though it did transfer the funds, totaling about $100 million a month, in January and February.