RAMALLAH, Thursday, March 28, 2024 (WAFA) – In a meeting held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ramallah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the Caretaker Government, Riyad al-Maliki, called upon his Belgian counterpart, Hadja Lahbib, to exert real pressure on Israel to halt its genocide against the Palestinian people.
Al-Maliki emphasized during the meeting that a sustainable ceasefire, the provision of international protection for Palestinian citizens, and the secure delivery of humanitarian aid should be top priorities.
He commended Belgium's efforts in supporting the peace process in the Middle East and expressed gratitude for Belgium's steadfast stance on the Palestinian issue, particularly its recent position before the International Court of Justice regarding the nature of Israeli occupation, condemnation of settlements, and continued financial support for the UNRWA.
Al-Maliki highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the ongoing genocide committed by Israeli occupation forces against innocent civilians. He cited reports of widespread destruction, displacement, hunger, deprivation of medicines, outbreaks of diseases, and targeting of healthcare facilities, including ongoing sieges and attacks on hospitals such as Al-Shifa, Al-Amal, and Nasser.
The Foreign Minister also addressed the continuous violations by Israeli occupation forces and settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, such as daily incursions into cities, villages, and refugee camps, killings of Palestinian civilians, including children, land seizures for settlement expansion, and crimes committed by armed settler militias with the support and protection of Israeli forces.
Al-Maliki stressed that several European countries' momentum towards recognizing the State of Palestine is a step in the right direction towards a two-state solution.
He called for the imposition of effective international sanctions on Israeli settler elements and militias and their inclusion on international terrorism lists.
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