President: All factions must hand over their weapons to the Palestinian Authority

SadaNews - President Mahmoud Abbas received a phone call this evening, Monday, from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The president appreciated Italy's positions committed to stopping the war in Gaza, rejecting the complete reoccupation of the entire territory, preventing the displacement of its people, committing to the two-state solution, and opposing settlement activities and settler violence. He also commended the efforts of the Italian Prime Minister in enhancing bilateral relations, reaffirming the historical and renewed ties that bind the two countries and their friendly peoples. He expressed gratitude to Italy for providing economic and humanitarian aid to our people in the Gaza Strip, and for treating injured children in Italian hospitals, along with thanks for training the Palestinian police and the bilateral relations in all fields, including security. During the call, the latest developments in the Palestinian territories were discussed, where the President emphasized the priority of achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire, hastening the entry of humanitarian aid to stop the war of starvation, the release of hostages and detainees, and that the State of Palestine assumes its complete civil and security responsibilities in the Gaza Strip. He demanded that all Palestinian factions hand over their weapons to the Palestinian Authority under the principle of one system, one law, and one legitimate weapon, reiterating that we do not want an armed state, with the necessity of complete Israeli withdrawal from the sector, starting the reconstruction process, and holding general elections within one year. Additionally, he called for achieving comprehensive calm in the West Bank to stop settlement expansion and annexation attempts, halt settler terrorism, release withheld Palestinian funds, and stop assaults on sacred Islamic and Christian religious sites. The President praised Italy's active participation and the results achieved in the International Peace Conference in New York, and the importance of building on that in the meetings of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly next September, deeply appreciating the recognition by several countries of the State of Palestine and inviting those that have not yet recognized it to do so. The president affirmed the important role Italy could play in implementing the two-state solution, building Palestinian state institutions, supporting reform and development programs, and reconstruction so that both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel can live in security, peace, and good neighborliness. At the end of the call, an agreement was reached to continue coordination and joint efforts for peace, and to enhance bilateral relations between the State of Palestine and Italy at various levels.