Abbas Threatens to Cancel Agreements if Israel Proceeds with Annexation Plans

A view shows Jordan Valley near the West Bank (Reuters)
A view shows Jordan Valley near the West Bank (Reuters)
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Abbas Threatens to Cancel Agreements if Israel Proceeds with Annexation Plans

A view shows Jordan Valley near the West Bank (Reuters)
A view shows Jordan Valley near the West Bank (Reuters)

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas will hold two important meetings next week with Fatah’s Central Committee and the executive committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), announced head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh.

Sheikh, who is also a member of Fatah’s central committee, added that the meetings will discuss the latest political developments and develop strategies to confront the annexation government in Israel.

Abbas wants to draw up a clear plan to respond to Israel’s plot to annex parts of the West Bank.

Palestinian officials warned that it will be a new, different, and decisive stage, if Israel goes with the plans to annex the West Bank.

PA informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that officials are now discussing canceling agreements and suspending recognition of Israel.

If the authority went ahead with these plans, then all political, security and economic agreements and understandings with Israel will will be ripped up.

The sources believe that the situation can’t get wore, noting that regardless of the price the PA might have to pay, it can’t accept this plan.

They indicated that the PA was formed to establish a state for the Palestinian people, adding that Israel wants to change this reality.

Israel insists on carrying out the annexation with the support of the US administration.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is “confident” the US administration will recognize Israeli sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank within months.

“President Trump pledged to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Jewish communities there and in the Jordan Valley,” Netanyahu said.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that the Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the occupying state and the transfer of the US embassy to it was the green light for the occupation authorities to continue the Judaization of occupied territories.

The Ministry indicated that the occupation measures and annexations are illegal.


“This is a flagrant coup against the international terms of reference of the peace process, mainly the principles of land for peace, the two-state solution and the UN resolutions, which were replaced by the US administration’s so-called 'Deal of the Century’.”



EU Exploring Support for New Gaza Administration Committee, Document Says

Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
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EU Exploring Support for New Gaza Administration Committee, Document Says

Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

The European Union is exploring possible support for a new committee established to take over the civil administration of Gaza, according to a document produced by the bloc's diplomatic arm and seen by Reuters.

"The EU is engaging with the newly established transitional governance structures for Gaza," the European External Action Service wrote in a document circulated to member states on Tuesday.

"The EU is also exploring possible support to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza," it added.

European foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Gaza during a meeting in Brussels on February 23.


Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
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Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)

The Israeli military announced that one of its soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Gaza on Wednesday, but a security source said the death appeared to have been caused by "friendly fire".

"Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, aged 21, from HaYogev, a soldier in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement.

A security source, however, told AFP that the soldier appeared to have been "killed by friendly fire", without providing further details.

"The incident is still under investigation," the source added.

The death brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10.


Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
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Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said the process of merging the SDF with Syrian government forces “may take some time,” despite expressing confidence in the eventual success of the agreement.

His remarks came after earlier comments in which he acknowledged differences with Damascus over the concept of “decentralization.”

Speaking at a tribal conference in the northeastern city of Hasakah on Tuesday, Abdi said the issue of integration would not be resolved quickly, but stressed that the agreement remains on track.

He said the deal reached last month stipulates that three Syrian army brigades will be created out of the SDF.

Abdi added that all SDF military units have withdrawn to their barracks in an effort to preserve stability and continue implementing the announced integration agreement with the Syrian state.

He also emphasized the need for armed forces to withdraw from the vicinity of the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), to be replaced by security forces tasked with maintaining order.