RAMALLAH: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Mohammad Mustafa met on Monday with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot at his office in Ramallah, where they discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian Territory and the region.

The meeting addressed efforts to end the ongoing year-long war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, as well as the escalated Israeli occupation and colonists’ attacks in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem.

Mustafa emphasized that the government’s top priorities include halting the ongoing war against the Palestinian people, providing relief and emergency aid to the Gaza population, and focusing on strengthening institutional performance while working toward financial and economic stability.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the Palestinian state, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities toward the Strip despite the financial blo
ckade and Israeli deductions from Palestinian clearance revenues.

Mustafa stressed that Israel aims to turn the West Bank into another Gaza Strip, through its incursions into northern West Bank governorates, sieges, destruction of infrastructure, killings, detentions, and imposition of checkpoints and closures.

The Prime Minister underscored the importance of France recognizing the State of Palestine and supporting Palestinian efforts to end the occupation and achieve the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Mustafa commended French President Macron’s statements, in which he emphasized the need to halt arms exports to Israel amid its war on the Gaza Strip. PM Mustafa noted that this is a positive step toward advancing a political solution to end the conflict.

For his part, Barrot reiterated his country’s ongoing support for Palestine, both directly and through the European Union. He affirmed that efforts are in progress to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and to de-escalate tensions thr
oughout the region.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA