Israel is to transfer 150 million Israeli shekels (about 39.5 million U.S. dollars) to the Gaza Strip to resolve the crisis of financial liquidity the coastal enclave is going through, an official said on Wednesday

Jihad al-Wazeer, chief of the Palestinian Monetary Authority told the official Ramallah-based "Voice of Palestine Radio" that there were positive signs within the last few hours to resolve the crisis of financial liquidity in Gaza.

"We got serious Israeli promises to transfer 150 million shekels (39.5 million dollars) to Gaza Strip within the coming few days," said al-Wazeer, who expects the money will be transferred before the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) pays salaries to its servants.

Two days ago, al-Wazeer, who is based in Ramallah, arrived in the Gaza Strip ruled by the Islamic Hamas movement since June 2007.

"The reason behind the lack of financial liquidity in Gaza is due to the ongoing Israeli blockade imposed on the enclave, in addition to some local merchants halt of liquidity to gain more profits," said al-Wazeer.

Israel has been imposing a blockade on the Gaza Strip right after Hamas movement seized control of the enclave by force in June 2007 and routed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces.

The Palestinians don't have their own currency, and use Israeli, Jordanian and U.S. currencies for their daily living, real estates and business.