Rome: President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine met on Saturday at his residence in Rome with a group of Italian association leaders and representatives of the Palestinian and Islamic communities in Italy.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, President Abbas held separate meetings where he informed the heads of Doctors for Gaza, the Italian Veterans Association, the National Italian Support Foundation, and leaders of the Islamic and Palestinian communities in Rome about the developments in the Palestinian arena. He discussed efforts to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza and criticized unilateral Israeli actions in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, which he argued undermine the two-state solution.
President Abbas reiterated the Palestinian stance that a fair and lasting peace should be achieved in line with international resolutions, advocating for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the 1967 borders. He expressed the Palestinian people's desire to live freely and with dignity in a democratic and modern state that rejects violence and embraces equality and pluralism.
He also addressed the issue of upcoming elections, stating that parliamentary and presidential elections would be held within a year after the end of the war and the establishment of suitable conditions. He emphasized that the lack of an independent Palestinian state is a historical injustice and a source of regional instability.
During his discussions, President Abbas highlighted the importance of continuing to mobilize international support for the Palestinian cause and presenting a truthful narrative of their struggle for freedom. He commended the Palestinian community in Italy for their support and influence on Italian public opinion regarding the national cause.
Accompanying President Abbas were PLO Executive Committee member Ziad Abu Amr, Presidential Advisor for Diplomatic Affairs Majdi Khaldi, and Palestinian Ambassador to Italy Mona Abuamara.