Palestinian Authority turned down an invitation from US administration to participate in a meeting at the White House later this week on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Palestinian Liberation Organization Executive Committee member Ahmad Majdalani indicated.
Majdalani accused US of trying to undermine the Palestinian Authority (PA) and said there was no need for a meeting because Gaza “is a political issue and not a humanitarian one.”
President Donald Trump's special envoy for Middle East peace Jason Greenblatt announced earlier that the White House will hold a meeting on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on March 13.
Greenblatt wrote that a "brainstorming session" on Gaza will take place next week "to find real solutions to the problems that Hamas has caused."
He also revealed that a similar meeting took place in Cairo last Thursday.
“In response to the burgeoning humanitarian situation in Gaza, key countries and stakeholders are preparing to act: There was a meeting in Cairo on Thursday, and there will be a brainstorming session at the White House next week to find real solutions to the problems that Hamas has caused,” Greenblatt wrote in the Washington Post Op-Ed published Thursday.
A spokesman for Greenblatt declined to reveal the names of the stakeholders and countries.
Majdalani mocked the idea saying that humanitarian sentiments that suddenly landed on Greenblatt didn't come from vacuum.
"The US knows very well that the cause of the tragedy of the Gaza Strip is the unjust Israeli siege, and what is needed is political treatment of this issue,” he claimed.
Speaking to official agency, Majdalani stressed that none of the Arab states responded to Washington's request. Hamas also rejected any US intervention in Gaza.
Hamas' member Sami Abu Zahri stated that Washington is trying to employ Gazans struggles to impose its solution on Palestine and the region.
The Palestinians have been refusing to meet with senior US officials since December.
Greenblatt criticized Hamas' negligence towards people in Gaza. He added: "Hamas must not be permitted to participate in any future government until it adheres to the conditions of the Middle East Quartet — the United States, Russia, European Union and United Nations — including by explicitly committing to nonviolence, recognizing the state of Israel, and accepting previous agreements and obligations between the parties."
He conditioned that Hamas must disarm and commit to peaceful negotiations, as well as address another humanitarian issue and return missing Israeli soldiers who were taken by Hamas, as well as Israeli civilians.
“There is a way out for Gaza, if only Hamas has the courage to admit failure and chart a new course," he reiterated.
The PA and Hamas rejection of US involvement at a time the Strip is suffering from deteriorating situations with 60 percent of the youth and graduates unemployment. Also, Gaza lacks electricity and clean water as Israel continue to prevent the entrance of building material for what it claims are "security reasons."
Palestinian officials confirmed that the “Deal of the Century” won't happen.
“None of the powers on earth are able to impose the Deal of the Century on us as long as we are united and the Arab, Muslim nations and the free people around the world support the Palestinians,” insisted Fatah Central Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad.
Trump will not beat us, Ahmad concluded.
