During a meeting with members of the U.S. Congress.. President Abbas: A ceasefire in Gaza must be established, and arms from factions should be handed over to the Palestinian Authority

SadaNews - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received today, Tuesday, in the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, with the presence of Vice President Hussein Sheikh, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley from the Democratic Party.

During the meeting, the latest developments were discussed, as well as ways to achieve a ceasefire and a comprehensive calming in the occupied Palestinian territories.

President Abbas emphasized the priority of an immediate ceasefire, the urgent provision of aid to the Gaza Strip to stop the war of starvation, the release of hostages and prisoners, and for the State of Palestine to assume its full civil and security responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, calling for all Palestinian factions to hand over their weapons to the Palestinian Authority under the principle of one system, one law, and one legitimate weapon. He reiterated that we do not want an armed state, while the complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is essential, initiating the reconstruction process, and going to parliamentary and presidential elections within one year after the end of the war. He emphasized the need to achieve comprehensive calm in the West Bank to stop settlement expansion and annexation attempts, halt settler terrorism, release withheld Palestinian funds, and cease assaults on Islamic and Christian sacred sites.

For their part, Senators Van Hollen and Merkley expressed their interest in hearing directly from President Abbas about the Palestinian perspective and their eagerness to enhance efforts to achieve security, stability, and peace in the region.

It is worth noting that the senators support the two-state solution and the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people.