RAMALLAH, Wednesday, October 18, 2023 (WAFA) – As part of its ongoing meetings to confront the ongoing Israeli aggression, the Palestinian leadership held a meeting this evening, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, to discuss the latest developments in the aggression against the people of the Gaza Strip and against Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The Palestinian leadership unanimously decided to adopt the following decisions during the meeting:

1. It affirmed its commitment to all decisions taken in July 2023 regarding the relationship with the occupying state, including the continued and complete cessation of security coordination.
2. It affirmed the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves, stressing that the mission of the Palestinian state institutions is to protect the Palestinian people, stating that everyone must bear their responsibilities while emphasizing commitment to international legitimacy and international law.
3. The leadership stressed that it will follow up on filed cases and continue filing cases before international courts, legally prosecute the occupation government at the international level for crimes it has committed and bears full responsibility for, as well as war crimes committed in violation of international law and international humanitarian law.
4. It emphasized that our Palestinian people in Gaza are not alone, and we must stand up to protect our people in the Gaza Strip from the crimes of the occupation and work with all concerned parties to lift the siege and provide medical relief supplies, food, water, and electricity.
5. It emphasized the prevention of the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, considering it a red line that “we will not allow to be crossed,” just as the displacement of Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem or the West Bank should not be allowed.
6. The leadership emphasized the protection of our people in the West Bank and Jerusalem from the assaults of the occupation forces, colonial settler terrorism, and attacks on Christian and Islamic sanctities.
7. It affirmed continuing with political and diplomatic steps on the broadest scale and at the highest levels in order to stop the Israeli aggression, lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, bring in relief materials, prevent displacement, and pursue a political solution that ends the occupation through an international peace conference based on international legitimacy resolutions.
8. It emphasized the provision of international protection for the Palestinian people by implementing Resolution 2334, heading to the UN Security Council, and moving with all parties and international forums.
9. It affirmed the importance of preserving the unity of the Palestinian ranks, rejecting strife and being drawn into chaos, preserving the gains of our people and public and private property, and not diverting the compass from the desired goal.
10. The leadership affirmed adherence to national constants and the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, commitment to international legitimacy and continuing to work towards gaining full membership in the United Nations and obtaining more international recognition, and embodying the sovereignty of the State of Palestine on the ground in accordance with Resolution 19/67.
11. It emphasized that security and peace will not be achieved without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights, without ending the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as without resolving the refugee issue in accordance with United Nations Resolution 194.

The Palestinian leadership decided to remain in permanent session in order to follow up on developments in the situation.

T.R.