Ramallah: Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa emphasized the need to open crossings and prioritize providing relief to the people of the Gaza Strip, supporting all efforts that contribute to alleviating their suffering. During the opening of the weekly Cabinet session on Tuesday, Mustafa affirmed Palestine’s welcome of any effort or action aimed at assisting and empowering the Palestinian people, in a way that preserves the geographical, legal, and institutional unity of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in accordance with international law, United Nations resolutions, and international agreements.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, the Cabinet also called for advancing to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. This phase includes the full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and the start of recovery and reconstruction, following the resolution of Israeli hostages’ issues and the handover of the remaining bodies. The Cabinet warned against the dangers of Israel exploiting the agreement with fabricated pretexts to escalate tensions and obstruct its implementation.
The Cabinet condemned the aggression by the Israeli army in the town of Kafr ‘Aqab and the nearby Qalandia refugee camp north of occupied Jerusalem. This involved large-scale raids, demolition of buildings and structures, and attacks on camp residents. The Cabinet described these actions as part of a systematic policy targeting Palestinians in Jerusalem and warned against attempts to impose a new fait accompli in the city.
Additionally, the Cabinet denounced the repressive measures carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities against local and international institutions serving the Palestinian people in Jerusalem, particularly UNRWA. This included the demolition of its offices and the lowering of its flag at its East Jerusalem headquarters. The Cabinet described these actions as a blatant assault on the rights of Palestinian refugees and a deliberate attempt to erase their identity.
The Cabinet emphasized that the only solution to the Palestinian refugee issue is a just political resolution based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the formation of a national team to follow up on the issue of missing persons, particularly in the Gaza Strip, ensuring comprehensive action to address the matter. Efforts have begun to update the lists of missing persons through the Ministry of Justice’s electronic platform.
Finally, the Cabinet approved the renewal of work arrangements in government institutions until the end of March, in light of the ongoing circumstances and the prevailing field and financial challenges.