Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to honour all of the governors that he fired from several areas of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip with immediate effect. 

In a major reshuffle of leadership, Abbas removed the governors of Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jericho. In the Gaza Strip, the governors from Gaza City, Khan Younes and Rafah were also dismissed. 

The decision sparked mixed reactions among the governors, some of whom told Palestinian radio that they were not informed in advance.

According the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Abbas will hold a ceremony in the coming days to express his gratitude for their work in advancing the Palestinian national project.  

The president also announced the establishment on Thursday of a committee to select new candidates to put forward for the positions.