RAMALLAH: Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, discussed with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné, advancing efforts to halt the ongoing Israeli genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza, intensifying humanitarian relief efforts, and curbing the escalation of Israeli occupation army and settler attacks in the West Bank.
During a meeting at his office in Ramallah, Prime Minister Mustafa stressed the urgent need for France and the United Kingdom to officially recognize the independent, sovereign State of Palestine and support the implementation of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion.
He expressed deep appreciation for their continuous efforts, continued calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and efforts to prevent further regional spiral of escalation.
The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for the UK, France, the EU countries, and international donors for the financial aid and hum
anitarian assistance provided to Palestine, particularly in Gaza since the onset of the Israeli aggression.
Highlighting the government’s preparations for post-war recovery, Mustafa underscored that the Government of Palestine has developed plans for the ‘Day After’ in the Gaza Strip to assume responsibilities and reunify institutions across the West Bank and Gaza under one authority and government.
He reiterated that, since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, the government has been consistently responsible for providing all essential services in Gaza-ranging inter alia from education and healthcare to water, electricity, and daily needs-without any interruption, despite all the challenges.
The Prime Minister renewed his call for the international community to intensify efforts to end the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza; emphasizing the need for global support for the government’s efforts in the reconstruction process, the unity of the Palestinian territories under th
e independent State of Palestine, and ending occupation.
Mustafa also stressed the importance of securing broader international recognition of Palestine and advancing its pursuit of full membership in the United Nations.
For their part, the British and French Foreign Ministers stressed the urgent need to establish an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into Gaza, emphasizing that de-escalation in the region is the only viable path forward.
They also expressed that they firmly reject any escalation and violence in the occupied West Bank, as well as the Israeli settlers’ attacks on Palestinian citizens and their properties, reaffirming the Palestinian people’s right to establish their independent state.
The meeting was also attended by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, British Consul-General in Jerusalem Diane Corner, and French Deputy Consul General Quentin Lebineau.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA