Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa said that more than 19 months have passed since the ongoing Israeli aggression, which began with a series of bloody crimes for which our people are still paying the price in blood, land, and resources. However, the Palestinian leadership, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, is working to resolve this major crisis in a way that achieves the highest interests of our people.
During the cabinet session held Tuesday in Bethlehem, the Prime Minister added that all these destructive policies and measures pursued by the occupation aim, first and foremost, to undermine our national project and prevent the establishment of our independent, sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and this is what we are working together to thwart.
Mustafa continued: “We begin our session today by saluting our steadfast people everywhere, especially our people in the Bethlehem Governorate. We meet today in the city of Bethlehem, the cradle of peace, in a special session of the Council of Ministers to follow up on the situation in this steadfast governorate, which, like all governorates of the homeland, has not been spared from the occupation’s measures and its ongoing aggression against our people, whether in the beloved Gaza Strip or in the northern West Bank.”
He commended the advanced international positions, particularly the statement issued yesterday by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, as well as the previous positions and statements issued by friendly European leaders and countries, all of which emphasized the need to halt the aggression, end the famine, allow humanitarian aid in, take practical steps in the event of continued Israeli attacks, and push for a political process that would end the occupation and lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the ground.
The Prime Minister also thanked the representatives of countries, international organizations, and media outlets who responded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' invitation to visit Tulkarm yesterday to see firsthand the reality there and its camps, in light of the ongoing aggression. We are working to organize a similar visit to Jenin tomorrow, as part of a series of ongoing diplomatic efforts to convey the voice of our people to the world, work to end their suffering, lift the injustice against them, and expose the daily crimes they are subjected to at the hands of the occupation.
In the face of this reality, Mustafa said, "We are continuing to strengthen our unity and national solidarity. Our meetings today with various activists in the Bethlehem Governorate, and tomorrow with activists in the Hebron Governorate, come within the context of ongoing government efforts aimed at devoting joint action to accomplishing the tasks facing national institutions and citizens, and aiming to strengthen the steadfastness of our people and unify ranks in the face of occupation and colonialism."
He assured our people that their voices are heard, their steadfastness is a source of pride and honor, and we will continue to work tirelessly and without hesitation to defend our legitimate rights until our people achieve their freedom and our independent state is established on our land with East Jerusalem as our capital.
שתף את דעתך
Palestinian Prime Minister: The occupation has been continuing its bloody crimes in the Gaza Strip for 19 months.