Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas decided on Monday to terminate the services of all his advisors, regardless of their names and degrees, and to stop their rights and privileges, without mentioning the reasons for the sudden decision.
The official Palestinian news agency (WAFA) said that President Abbas decided to "abolish the decisions and contracts related to his advisers, and to stop the rights and privileges arising from their status as advisers."
The statement did not give further details, nor did it mention the reasons why the president made the surprise decision.
President Abbas also issued a decree obliging the president and members of the previous government (headed by Rami Hamdallah) to return the sums they had received for the period prior to his visa for their salaries and bonuses, the Palestinian News Agency said.
Abbas also decided "to consider the amounts you later charge for his aforementioned sovereign visa as rewards," the agency said.
Earlier in June, activists revealed on social media information that the salaries of former members of the government had increased nearly doubled by a decision by President Abbas, which sparked controversy within the Palestinian arena.
But President Abbas returned and canceled the decision, and quoted officials in his Fatah movement, saying: "With regard to the decision to raise the salaries of ministers, we have made a mistake and corrected the error, and everyone should correct those who make mistakes, and the error is to continue the mistake."