Either that or they were simply trying to push Israel back into negotiations.

On a more general note though, the fact that the move was provoked doesn't mean it is wrong. To bring an analogy from the game of chess, often a pawn is sacrificed in hope to gain some advantage (positional or another). Yet declining the gambit is sometimes the wrong thing to do. As a matter of fact, at some time in the past (18th century, I believe), the unwritten rule declared that declining a piece or pawn sacrifice is considered rude.

Anyhow, back to the present ... even if the Palestinians are trying to provoke an unrestrained Israeli response, and thus eventually make UN send troops to this region, they might be analyzing the situations wrongly and UN forces would eventually help the Israeli cause.

Another possible explanation to the Palestinian course of action might simply be that it is their best option, which doesnt necessarily mean it is a good one. In other words, their leadership might have come to the conclusion that they are in a lose-lose situation and picked the less bad option.