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Hamas, Jihad Refuse to Attend Palestinian Leadership Meeting

Hamas, Jihad Refuse to Attend Palestinian Leadership Meeting
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Hamas, Jihad Refuse to Attend Palestinian Leadership Meeting

Hamas, Jihad Refuse to Attend Palestinian Leadership Meeting

Hamas and Islamic Jihad refused to attend the Palestinian leadership talks scheduled for Saturday to discuss an action plan against possible Israeli decisions to annex parts of the West Bank.

Hamas said that it had not received any official invitation to attend the meeting, stressing its readiness to participate in any serious talks that could bring about the required change in the Palestinian situation.

The movement called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to invite the secretaries-general of the Palestinian factions and forces, to an urgent meeting based on an adequate mechanism, in order to work on an effective national strategy to face the annexation plan.

The Islamic Jihad Movement has also announced that it would not attend the gathering in Ramallah.

In a brief press statement, the movement said: “The Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine has received an invitation to attend the talks to be held in Ramallah next Saturday, May 16, under the title of the Leadership Meeting.”

The Jihad added that it supported “every constructive and sincere effort to restore unity and confront the occupation,” but stressed that any leadership meeting should include the secretaries-general of the different factions “to discuss the risks to the national cause… and start rebuilding on new foundations that achieve partnership and end division.”

The Palestinian leadership has conveyed invitations to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements to attend a scheduled meeting next Saturday, dedicated to announcing the strategy to respond to any possible Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank.

The PLO’s executive member and Minister of Social Development Ahmed Majdalani had confirmed that the two movements, in addition to the Popular Front, would participate in the discussions.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad have participated in the last talks to discuss US President Donald Trump’s announcement of his Middle East peace plan.

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US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
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20
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US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on what it said was a Houthi-linked petroleum smuggling and sanctions evasion network across Yemen and the United Arab Emirates in fresh action targeting the Iran-backed militant group.

The US Treasury Department in a statement said the two individuals and five entities sanctioned on Tuesday were among the most significant importers of petroleum products and money launderers that benefit the Houthis.

"The Houthis collaborate with opportunistic businessmen to reap enormous profits from the importation of petroleum products and to enable the group’s access to the international financial system," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender.

"These networks of shady businesses underpin the Houthis’ terrorist machine, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to disrupt these schemes."

Among those targeted on Tuesday was Muhammad Al-Sunaydar, who the Treasury said manages a network of petroleum companies between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates and was one of the most prominent petroleum importers in Yemen.

Three companies in his network were also designated, with the Treasury saying they coordinated the delivery of approximately $12 million dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products with a US-designated company to the Houthis.

Since Israel's war in Gaza against the Palestinian group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In January, Trump re-designated the Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization, aiming to impose harsher economic penalties in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and against US warships defending the critical maritime area.

In May, the United States announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.

The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Monday in its latest assault on the militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it.