The recent dangerous Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip calls for an immediate international intervention to protect Palestinians, announced Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.
Shtayyeh urged the United Nations to immediately intervene to halt and ensure cessation of the Israeli onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip.
He condemned the international community for remaining a silent observer in the face of the Israeli occupation crimes against Palestinian civilians and “cannot not take a neutral stance in the face of photographs of the bodies of Palestinian children.”
“We do not accept statements that put the perpetrator and the victim on an equal footing,” he was quoted by Wafa news agency.
The PM called for putting the differences aside and working uniformly for the Palestinian people who suffer the scourge of the Israeli siege and aggression.
He also called for empowering the government to carry out its duties and putting all its resources to serve the people. He reiterated his government's readiness to move immediately to the Gaza Strip to end the division, in accordance with the reconciliation agreement 2017.
Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas are in disagreement over the government’s inability to operate in Gaza in accordance with a previous agreement.
The Premier pointed out that PA President Mahmoud Abbas made extensive international and regional calls overnight in an attempt to bring to a halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
He welcomed all efforts aimed to secure a ceasefire agreement, especially the Egyptian-led efforts.
He stressed the importance of strengthening Palestinian national unity to confront the Israeli onslaught on Gaza and asserted the government welcomes any effort for ceasefire, especially the Egyptian efforts.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres indicated he is following with “deep concern” the latest developments across the Gaza-Israeli border and urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
Deploring the “risk of yet another dangerous escalation and further loss of life on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan,” the Sec-Gen condemned.
He urged all parties to “exercise maximum restraint, immediately de-escalate and return to the understandings of the past few months.”
The UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, issued a similar call for calm on Saturday and continues to work closely with Egypt and all concerned parties to restore calm.
