RAMALLAH, Palestine: President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas has praised the steadfast stance of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in supporting the Palestinian cause.
He welcomed the joint statement issued at the conclusion of the Turkish president’s visit to the Kingdom, which reaffirmed the positions of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on the Palestinian cause, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.
The statement highlighted the urgent need to consolidate the ceasefire, end the occupation of Gaza, allow the Palestinian National Authority to resume its responsibilities in the Strip, and ensure the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with international law and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
It stressed the urgent need to intensify relief efforts in Gaza and to ensure the unimpeded opening of all crossings to facilitate the delivery of essential humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip.
The two sides further emphasised the responsibility of the international community to exert pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities to protect civilians, refrain from targeting critical infrastructure, and fully comply with international law and international humanitarian law.
Meanwhile, Israeli tank shelling and air strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 21 Palestinians on Wednesday, including four children, as evacuations of sick and wounded patients through the Rafah border crossing were abruptly halted, aid agencies said.
Hospital sources, cited by Al Jazeera, said that the death toll since dawn had risen to at least 21, amid continued Israeli bombardment of Gaza City and the southern city of Khan Younis.
Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued. Gaza’s health ministry said at least 529 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the peace process began, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to more than 71,800.
