The flag of Palestine flutters as Israeli forces fire tear gas to disperse Palestinian protesters during a demonstration against Israeli settlements in the village of Deir Jarir near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on Jan 8, 2021. (ABBAS MOMANI / AFP)

RAMALLAH - A Palestinian official said on Monday that forming a unity government after the general elections without including the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is "impossible."

Hussein al-Sheikh, member of the central committee of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas-led Fatah party, also said that cancelling the upcoming general elections "is impossible."

The Palestinian side has already informed Israel that holding the elections "is a pure Palestinian decision and no one has any right to intervene and we will not comply with any Israeli pressure," said Hussein al-Sheikh, member of the central committee of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas-led Fatah party

"Israel exerted pressure on the Palestinian Authority to call off the legislative and presidential elections in the Palestinian territories under flimsy excuses that serve its interests," al-Sheikh told reporters.

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The Palestinian side has already informed Israel that holding the elections "is a pure Palestinian decision and no one has any right to intervene and we will not comply with any Israeli pressure," according to al-Sheikh, who is also Palestinian minister of civil affairs.

"The Palestinian people will participate in the elections, no matter what the price is," he said.

Meanwhile, al-Sheikh called on Israel to allow the Palestinians to hold the general elections in East Jerusalem, saying that the Palestinian side had addressed an official request to Israel and still waits for an official answer to the request.

In January, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the 2021 general elections will include the legislative elections on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and the elections of the Palestinian National Council, the highest decision-making body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on Aug 31.

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The last Palestinian presidential elections were held in March 2005, and the legislative elections in January 2006.