RAMALLAH, Monday, May 17, 2021 (WAFA) – Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs, Riyad al-Malki discussed with Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio the latest developments of Israel's aggression against the Palestinian people and its continuous crimes in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.

Malki expressed Palestine's desire to see an end to this aggression stressing that the leadership is making every possible effort with many parties to pressure Israel to stop its aggression, provide protection for the Palestinian people, and open political horizons to end the occupation.

In turn, Di Maio extended the condolences of the Italian government and people for the loss of large numbers of innocent Palestinians as a result of the continuous Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.

He expressed his grave concern over the Israeli escalation and multiple attacks against the residents of Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, stressing the importance of stopping the ongoing violence.

The Italian minister also called on Israel to stop the ongoing violence in order to spare the lives of innocent civilians and prevent inflicting damage to civilian infrastructure and homes.

Di Maio stressed the importance of the meeting that will be held tomorrow for the European Union foreign ministers to discuss this ongoing violence.

He said the meeting will also tackle the possibility to resume the political process, with the importance of stopping all unilateral measures, especially in Jerusalem, as well as settlement activity, the forced expulsion of Palestinian citizens from their homes, affirming the need to preserve the status quo in Jerusalem, particularly at al-Aqsa mosque.

A.D./T.R.