Malta's Prime Minister Participates with Ambassador Hanania in the Flag-Raising Ceremony at the Embassy of the State of Palestine

SadaNews - The Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta, Dr. Robert Abela, participated with the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Malta, Fadi Hanania, in the flag-raising ceremony of Palestine at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Malta. The event was attended by the President of Parliament, the Ministers of Culture, Heritage, and Local Government, heads of all political parties, former Prime Ministers and Presidents of the Republic, parliament members, representatives from civil society institutions, university presidents, academics, church representatives, the Imam of Malta, Arab and foreign ambassadors, and a large crowd of Maltese and foreign supporters and community members.

Ambassador Hanania welcomed Prime Minister Abela, thanking him for accepting his invitation to participate in the flag-raising ceremony at the embassy following the historic official recognition of the State of Palestine during the Prime Minister’s speech at the United Nations. He emphasized the deep historical relations that connect Malta and Palestine since the early seventies, marked by the opening of representation offices for the Palestine Liberation Organization and Malta's consistent voting in favor of Palestine in all international forums.

The ambassador noted that the recognition will not dry the tears of the martyr's mother, will not stop the cries of the orphaned children, nor will it heal hundreds of thousands of injured, but it will plant hope in the heart of every Palestinian for freedom and independence.

He thanked the Prime Minister for his steadfast positions in support of justice and humanity, being one of the first leaders to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and to allow aid, in addition to sending tons of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Ambassador Hanania requested that the Prime Minister continue working to completely stop the aggression and remove the obstacles that hinder the establishment of the Palestinian state through Israel's annexation of Palestinian territories, its continuation of building illegal settlements, and the release of all prisoners.

Ambassador Hanania expressed gratitude to the Maltese people for embracing the children who arrived for treatment from Gaza and for the care provided to them. He urged the Prime Minister to continue efforts to completely halt the aggression and eliminate the barriers that prevent the establishment of the Palestinian state through Israel's annexation of land, the ongoing construction of illegal settlements, and the release of all prisoners in order to end the occupation and achieve justice for the Palestinian people by establishing a Palestinian state that unifies Gaza and the West Bank with its capital in East Jerusalem.

In turn, Prime Minister Dr. Abela expressed his happiness in visiting the Embassy of the State of Palestine and raising the Palestinian flag after the official recognition, stating that Malta will continue to support the rights of the Palestinian people and its ongoing efforts to ensure a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. He characterized this recognition as a historic step towards peace and ending the occupation, affirming that the two-state solution is the only way to achieve peace and security in the region.

The ambassador raised the Palestinian flag alongside the Prime Minister, followed by the singing of the national anthems of Malta and Palestine. The Prime Minister also met with the children who came for treatment from Gaza and embraced a child named Ibrahim, whom he mentioned in his speech at the United Nations.