Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recalled on Tuesday the Palestinian Liberation Organization envoy to Washington, Husam Zamlat, for “consultations” following the US relocation of its embasy to Jerusalem earlier this week.
Sources said that the envoy will not return to the US any time soon, in rejection of the relocation and Washington’s policy towards Gaza.
The Palestinian foreign ministry explained in a statement that Abbas’ decision to recall Zamlat, the PLO’s chief representative in Washington, followed the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of Fatah Movement Mahmoud Al-Aloul warned of the Palestinian leadership’s inability to maintain a peaceful resistance in wake of the continuous Israeli attacks on demonstrators at the Gaza border.
Palestinian protesters were hit by more bullets on Tuesday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, although the clashes were less severe than on Monday.
During a news conference in Ramallah following a bloody day in Gaza, Aloul said: “Crimes and massacres committed by the occupation against our people and its attacks against the peaceful resistance with bullets, make us unable to maintain this peaceful resistance.”
“It is not because we want so, but because of what the occupation is doing,” he went on to say, adding: “Peaceful resistance is our choice, and this is an issue that all Palestinians agree on, but Israel’s reactions and the crimes it commits may not make us able to maintain its peacefulness.”
Aloul’s threats came a day after Israel killed 61 Palestinian demonstrators on the Gaza border when they were protesting against the transfer of the US embassy and marking Nakba Day.
Palestinians commemorated Nakba Day amid official mourning, a general strike and great grief over the victims of Monday’s bloodshed. However, the decrease of intensity of confrontations was largely observed, due to the Palestinian factions’ attempts to reduce casualties amid fears of greater chaos.
In the West Bank, clashes broke out with the Israeli army in Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Nablus. Medical sources said that 62 citizens were wounded by live ammunition and rubber bullets, and suffocation cases after inhaling tear gas.
PLO Executive Secretary Saeb Erekat said on Monday that the Palestinian Authority decided to file a war crimes complaint against Israel with the International Criminal Court over its “settlement construction on occupied lands.”
His comments followed an urgent meeting with Abbas late Monday.
Israel’s use of live ammunition against the Palestinians has garnered global outrage and demands for a probe. The ICC said it was monitoring the situation and the Arab League will hold a meeting later on Wednesday to address the situation in Gaza.
Sources said that the envoy will not return to the US any time soon, in rejection of the relocation and Washington’s policy towards Gaza.
The Palestinian foreign ministry explained in a statement that Abbas’ decision to recall Zamlat, the PLO’s chief representative in Washington, followed the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of Fatah Movement Mahmoud Al-Aloul warned of the Palestinian leadership’s inability to maintain a peaceful resistance in wake of the continuous Israeli attacks on demonstrators at the Gaza border.
Palestinian protesters were hit by more bullets on Tuesday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, although the clashes were less severe than on Monday.
During a news conference in Ramallah following a bloody day in Gaza, Aloul said: “Crimes and massacres committed by the occupation against our people and its attacks against the peaceful resistance with bullets, make us unable to maintain this peaceful resistance.”
“It is not because we want so, but because of what the occupation is doing,” he went on to say, adding: “Peaceful resistance is our choice, and this is an issue that all Palestinians agree on, but Israel’s reactions and the crimes it commits may not make us able to maintain its peacefulness.”
Aloul’s threats came a day after Israel killed 61 Palestinian demonstrators on the Gaza border when they were protesting against the transfer of the US embassy and marking Nakba Day.
Palestinians commemorated Nakba Day amid official mourning, a general strike and great grief over the victims of Monday’s bloodshed. However, the decrease of intensity of confrontations was largely observed, due to the Palestinian factions’ attempts to reduce casualties amid fears of greater chaos.
In the West Bank, clashes broke out with the Israeli army in Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Nablus. Medical sources said that 62 citizens were wounded by live ammunition and rubber bullets, and suffocation cases after inhaling tear gas.
PLO Executive Secretary Saeb Erekat said on Monday that the Palestinian Authority decided to file a war crimes complaint against Israel with the International Criminal Court over its “settlement construction on occupied lands.”
His comments followed an urgent meeting with Abbas late Monday.
Israel’s use of live ammunition against the Palestinians has garnered global outrage and demands for a probe. The ICC said it was monitoring the situation and the Arab League will hold a meeting later on Wednesday to address the situation in Gaza.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
