JERUSALEM, Sept. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Israel cancelled a scheduled handover ceremony of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian security control, officials said Sunday.

    The ceremony, originally slated for Sunday afternoon at the Erez crossing in northern Gaza, was called off after the Palestinians said it will boycott it.

    Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman Tawfeeq Abu Khousa told Xinhua that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has decided not to send any official to attend the ceremony.

    "The withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is basically unilateral and Israel has not fully coordinated everything in the withdrawal with the Palestinian side. This is why we will not attend," said Abu Khousa.

    Israel will complete its final stage of withdrawal from the coastal strip by Monday following a cabinet approval Sunday.

    The cabinet also voted against the demolition of 25 synagogues in the evacuated Gaza Strip. Enditem