President Receives Phone Call from Greek Prime Minister

SadaNews - President Mahmoud Abbas received a phone call today, Friday, from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The president expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation for Greece's steadfast political positions in support of the Palestinian cause and the ongoing humanitarian assistance that Greece provides to the Palestinian people, the latest of which was the air drops of Greek aid in cooperation with Jordan, especially in light of the catastrophic humanitarian conditions being faced in the Gaza Strip. He praised the Greek positions and the historical and renewed friendship that binds Greece and Palestine, affirming the joint efforts to protect churches and the Christian presence in Jerusalem and all other sacred Palestinian lands. He highly valued the positions of the friendly Greek people and the positions of the Greek government that support the implementation of the two-state solution in accordance with international law, which aligns with the stance of the European Union that rejects the expansion of Israeli military occupation in the Gaza Strip, demands a permanent ceasefire, releases hostages and prisoners, and allows the Palestinian National Authority to assume its responsibilities in both the West Bank and Gaza, in pursuit of peace, stability, and security for all. The president warned of the dangers posed by the decision taken by the Israeli government to reoccupy the Gaza Strip and to displace its residents to the south, deeming this decision a new crime added to the series of Israeli crimes in the West Bank including Jerusalem, and that it must be stopped immediately. President Abbas confirmed that he will continue to engage politically at all levels, including approaching the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to rally international and regional positions against these plans. The president also emphasized the importance of empowering the State of Palestine to fully assume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, the necessity for an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages and prisoners, the provision of humanitarian aid, and the Palestinian state to take security responsibility with Arab and international support, and the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, ensuring the unity of the system, law, and legitimate weapons under the auspices of the state. He stressed the need to stop unilateral Israeli actions that violate international law, including settlement expansion, annexation, settler terrorism, and assaults on Islamic and Christian sanctities, as well as the release of Palestinian funds held by Israel. He reaffirmed the importance of implementing reform programs, completing Palestinian state institutions, and proceeding to general elections, and moving towards the implementation of the two-state solution within the framework of the international peace conference to be held in New York next September, urging countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so.