GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Tension between Palestinian leaders and the US administration is growing, especially since the United States decided Sept. 10 to shut down the PLO’s mission in the United States and officially expel its head, Husam Zomlot, along with his family and the mission's representatives. Washington also closed their bank accounts Sept. 16.  

Washington explained the move by saying that the PLO hasn't taken steps to embark on direct and meaningful talks with Israel, and that the United States seeks to foil any Palestinian attempt to have the International Criminal Court investigate alleged Israeli crimes.

The PLO doesn't want the United States to lead Israeli-Palestinian talks, particularly as its closing of the mission was only the latest action the US administration has taken against Palestinians. US President Donald Trump declared in December that Washington would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The US administration also has withheld more than $500 million in annual aid for Palestinians via international and US institutions.

In addition, the United States, which used to contribute one-third of the annual budget for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), cut off funding to the organization.