The Palestinian leadership decided to halt all contacts and meetings with Israel and continue the suspension of security coordination between the Palestinian security forces and the Israeli security forces.
The Ramallah-based leadership also decided on Monday night to limit its relationship with the US over Washington’s alleged failure to exert pressure on Israel.
The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah to discuss the latest developments surrounding the large-scale IDF operation in the Jenin refugee camp, which began earlier in the day.
Earlier this year, the Palestinian Authority decided to suspend the security coordination after Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians during a raid in Jenin.
What happened at the meeting in Ramallah?
At the meeting in Ramallah, headed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leadership decided to invite the secretaries-general of various Palestinian factions to an emergency meeting to agree on a “comprehensive national vision and unite the ranks to confront the Israeli aggression,” said Nabil Abu Rudaineh, spokesperson for the PA presidency.
The Palestinian leadership, he said, “affirmed the right of our people to defend themselves, and the Palestinian Authority’s mission to protect the Palestinian people.”
Abu Rudaineh said the Palestinian leadership also announced that the understandings reached with Israel during the meetings in Jordan’s Aqaba and Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh “no longer exist and are no longer valid” in light of the Israeli non-compliance with them.
At the two summits in February and March, attended also by Jordan, Egypt, and the US, the Palestinians and Israel affirmed their commitment to all previous agreements between them, and to work towards a just and lasting peace.
They also reaffirmed the necessity of committing to de-escalation on the ground and to prevent further violence.
Additionally, they reaffirmed their commitment to advancing security, stability, and peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike and joint readiness to work to end unilateral measures. The two sides agreed to develop a mechanism to curb and counter violence, incitement, and inflammatory statements and actions.
The Palestinian leadership renewed its call to the United Nations to provide international protection for the Palestinians and impose sanctions on Israel.