Ramallah, May 17 (RHC)-- Palestine has recalled its ambassadors to four European countries to protest their participation in an event celebrating the opening of the new U.S. embassy in occupied Jerusalem.  The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that its ambassadors to Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria were being called home for consultations.  The Palestinians said they consider the participation a "grave violation of international law."

The European Union objected to the embassy move.  But the four European states criticized by the Palestinians broke with the 28-nation bloc’s policy to attend the celebration.  The Palestinians have strongly objected to the move of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied holy city.  Palestine earlier withdrew its top representative to the United States, one day after Washington moves its embassy to Jerusalem.

According to a statement released by the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, the head of the Palestine Liberation Organization's office in Washington, Husam Zomlot, would be leaving the United States within the next few hours.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour has slammed the killing of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as war crimes.  "Of course, this massacre is taking place at the same time when the United States of America illegally and unilaterally and in a provocative way is opening its embassy," he said While addressing a UNSC meeting.
Washington has already blocked the adoption of a UN statement calling for an investigation into the killing of Palestinians.

The occupied territories have witnessed new tensions ever since U.S. President Donald Trump on December 6, 2017 announced U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s “capital” and said Washington would move its embassy to the city.   The dramatic decision triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories as well as Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco and other Muslim countries.