JERUSALEM — Palestinian officials on Monday vowed not to bend to what they called the Trump administration's bullying tactics after being notified that their office in Washington would be shut down as part of an effort to block cases against Israel at the International Criminal Court.



Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he was officially notified of the decision, which is expected to be announced by U.S. national security adviser John Bolton later Monday. He decried the move as a continuation of a policy of "collective punishment" by the Trump administration.



"These people have decided to stand on the wrong side of history by protecting war criminals and destroying the two state solution," he said. "I told them if you are worried about courts, you should stop aiding and abetting crimes."



The United States last year said it would close the office of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute Israel for alleged war crimes. However, he later backtracked on the decision, advising the Palestinian leadership to limit the office's activities to efforts to achieve peace with Israel as the Trump administration prepares its long-awaited peace plan.



But as that happens, U.S. moves to pressure the Palestinian leadership have driven the relationship to crisis point. In a series of blows to the Palestinians, the United States has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, moved its embassy there and cut funding to the U.N. agency that deals with Palestinian refugees. Then, last week, Washington said it would withdraw $25 million in support from hospitals in East Jerusalem.



In his speech Monday, Bolton will threaten to impose sanctions against the International Criminal Court if it proceeds with investigations against the United States or Israel, The Washington Post reported Monday, citing an advanced copy of his speech.



The United States would ban ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the country, sanction their funds in the U.S. financial system, prosecute them in the courts, the report said.



However, Erekat said that the Palestinian leadership would double down in its efforts and would submit a new complaint to the ICC within 48 hours over the Israeli Supreme Court decision to demolish the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar.



He said that the United States is not "part of the peace process" and doesn't even have the right to "sit in the room" during any negotiations, dismissing U.S. officials such as ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, as a "group of settlers" pursing a right-wing Israeli agenda.



Husam Zumlot, the Palestine Liberation Organization's representative to the United States accused the White House of attempting to do irreversible damage to the U.S.-Palestinian relationship that would be hard for any future administration to repair.



As well as checking off a wish-list of Israeli demands, such as recognizing Jerusalem, it shows that the United States is attempting to preempt Israel's fears over international prosecution and a more favorable attitude toward Palestinians among young Americans. He described U.S. efforts to block investigation of Israel at the ICC as an "onslaught against international legality".



The United States is not a member of the ICC but cooperated with the court under the Obama administration. Israel is also not a member. Despite vehement Israeli opposition, Palestine was admitted as a member state in 2015. Since then, it has lodged complaints over the expansion of Israeli settlements and alleged war crimes during the 2014 Gaza War and the use of sharpshooters during protests in Gaza this year.