ALL US aid to Palestine has now been cut as new anti-terrorism legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump last year comes into effect.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) ceased all assistance to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza on Friday after a January 31 deadline passed meaning those receiving foreign aid can be now sued under the new law.

It also sees the end of around $60 million (£52m) for Palestinian security services who work with Israeli forces in joint operations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act, which was passed by the US Congress last year, the US can sue countries receiving foreign aid in US courts for alleged complicity in “acts of war.”

Palestinian Authority (PA) spokesman Saeb Erekat confirmed that the body had written to the US state department asking them to cut funding for fear of being taken to court.

“We do not want to receive any money if it will cause us to appear before the courts.

“We are not seeking anything, the Americans have made their decision, but we will continue to participate in the fight against terrorism in the region,” he said.

The PA denies Israeli accusations that it is responsible for allowing terror attacks to emanate from the occupied territories and insists that it is committed to a peaceful resolution to the conflict caused by Israel’s illegal occupation of its land.

Last year the US slashed hundreds of millions of dollars for Palestinian humanitarian projects including health, education and infrastructure. Washington also cut funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees – the UN Relief and Works Agency had given more than $360m (£315m) in 2017.