The United Nations has accepted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' request to join several UN agencies.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accepted the applications to join 13 international conventions, and informed all 193 member states they were made in "in due and proper form."

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Thursday that Ban informed all 193 UN member states of his acceptance, the Associated Press news agency reported.

The move comes after Israel refused to release a final batch of 26 prisoners, in an attempt to extend talks beyond their April 29 deadline, with the Palestinians retaliating by signing letters of accession to 15 international conventions.

Thirteen were deposited at the UN, one in Geneva, and one in the Netherlands.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, said on Tuesday that Palestine will officially become a state party to 13 of the 15 conventions on May 2 and is ready with more applications to join UN agencies, conventions and treaties depending on Israel's actions.