The Palestinian Authority (PA) invited Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) to attend a meeting for drafting a response strategy to Israel’s possible annexation of West Bank territories, officials said.
The meeting is slotted for Saturday.
Sabri Saidam, member of the Fatah Central Committee, confirmed that Hamas and PIJ representatives have been invited to attend the Palestinian leadership meeting in Ramallah.
Saidam told Voice of Palestine that the Palestinians would “pursue their struggle to achieve all their rights, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.”
PA Social Affairs Minister Ahmed Majdalani confirmed that Hamas, PIJ and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine will be attending the meeting.
Both Hamas and PIJ had participated in the last meeting they were invited to in order to discuss US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, also known as the Deal of the Century.
Last week, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee met in Ramallah to discuss the "dangers of the Israeli annexation plan".
It is expected that the PLO Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee draft a roadmap for dealing with the possible annexation.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas asked the committee to lay down expected responses and scenarios, and ways to face possible political, economic and security repercussions, after implementing the required responses.
There is talk of the PA freezing all agreements with Israel, including political, security and economic deals. This also extends to the US.
Majdalani said that current recommendations suggest that the transition period is over and that it is time to move from having an authority to having a state.
