RAMALLAH, May 26, 2025 (WAFA) – Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa accused Israel of using famine as a weapon of war in Gaza, calling it part of a broader campaign of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Speaking at the opening session of the expanded ministerial meeting of the Madrid Group on the Palestinian issue, held in the Spanish capital, Mustafa urged the international community to act urgently following the Palestinian government’s declaration of Gaza as a famine-stricken area.
“The deliberate deprivation of food and aid, continuous bombardment, and destruction of all means of life carried out by Israel are clear and ongoing war crimes,” he said. He also warned that the situation in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, remains dire, citing rampant colony expansion, colonist violence, home demolitions, and forced displacement. “This hell must end immediately and unconditionally,” he added.
The prime minister expressed hope that the recent preparatory meeting for a high-level international conference in New York would pave the way for concrete steps toward achieving a two-state solution and establishing a Palestinian state.
“This is the moment to build irreversible international momentum toward full and global recognition of the State of Palestine,” Mustafa said, calling for robust political, legal, and financial support for the Palestinian government to uphold the rights of its people and preserve the two-state solution.
On the sidelines of the expanded ministerial meeting of the Madrid Group on the Palestinian issue, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa held a series of high-level diplomatic meetings aimed at mobilizing international political and humanitarian support, particularly in light of the worsening situation in Gaza.
Mustafa met with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and thanked Spain for hosting the meeting and for its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause in international forums.
He also held talks with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, briefing him on the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where famine conditions are intensifying due to Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid. Mustafa also highlighted the ongoing targeting of civilians, destruction of medical facilities, and rising settler and military violence in the West Bank.
Minister Eide expressed Norway’s rejection of the Israeli-imposed mechanisms for distributing aid in Gaza, which he said violate international law. He reaffirmed Norway’s support for the upcoming Middle East Peace Conference, scheduled to take place in New York on June 17 under the joint leadership of France and Saudi Arabia. Eide also reiterated Norway’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian government and its programs, expressing readiness to increase engagement in helping the government fulfill its responsibilities despite the obstacles imposed by the occupation.
In a meeting with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, Mustafa stressed the importance of Portugal joining the Madrid Group and playing an active role in supporting international efforts related to the Palestinian cause, including backing for UNRWA and the Gaza reconstruction plan adopted by the Arab League during the Cairo conference on March 4.
The Prime Minister also met separately with UK Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, stressing the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate entry of humanitarian aid. He called for swift international action to stop the crimes being committed against the Palestinian people.
Additionally, Mustafa held talks with Malta’s Minister for Social and Affordable Housing, Roderick Galdes, who represented Malta at the meeting. He thanked Malta for its positive stance toward recognizing the State of Palestine during the upcoming UN-hosted international peace conference next month.
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