“We express our deep surprise at this decision and consider it a terrible violation of the 1947 headquarters agreement, which guarantees entry and protection of representatives of the United Nations member states,” Ahmed Al-Diek, political adviser to the Palestinian Foreign Minister, said on Friday.
The headquarters agreement signed between the United Nations and the United States in 1947 requires Washington, D.C. to ensure that representatives, staff and experts from UN member states, regardless of political relations.
Deek urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and member states to resolve what he called a Flagland violation.
He said Palestinian leaders will consult with friendly countries to decide on appropriate diplomatic measures.
The senior Palestinian state further said the US decision “will not halt the waves of Palestine’s perceptions and the international consensus on the need to stop genocide, displacement and annexation.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian presidency expressed “deep regret and surprise” about the US decision.
In a statement, the move said “is clearly inconsistent with international law and the United Nations Headquarters Agreement.”
The statement noted that Palestine holds an observer position at the United Nations, calling on the US administration to “rethink and reverse that decision.”
Before Friday, the US Department of State said it had cancelled visas for PLO and PA members.
He also condemned the Palestinian authority for “attempts to negotiate” by appealing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over Israeli abuse committed in both the occupied West Bank and Israeli child wars in Gaza.
Many Western countries, such as France and the UK, have already declared their intention to recognize the Palestinian state at future UN conferences.
MNA/