ROME, November 7, 2025 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas met today, Friday, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome.
During the meeting, President Abbas discussed with President Mattarella bilateral relations and the importance of maintaining and strengthening them. He expressed appreciation for Italy’s humanitarian support to the Palestinian people, including receiving injured children for treatment, training Palestinian police forces, participation in the European monitoring mission at the Rafah crossing, and security cooperation between both countries.
President Abbas briefed his Italian counterpart on the latest developments in Palestine, including efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire, ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, secure the release of detainees and hostages, oversee the full withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza, and enable the State of Palestine to assume full responsibilities there.
He also addressed the ongoing Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continued settlement expansion, settler violence against Palestinian civilians, land seizure attempts, and assaults on Islamic and Christian holy sites.
President Abbas reaffirmed Palestine’s commitment to all reforms previously pledged — aimed at strengthening a democratic, unarmed Palestinian state — including holding elections within one year after the end of the war, issuing a temporary constitution, and enacting laws regulating political parties and elections.
He stressed the principle of one state authority, one rule of law, and one legitimate weapon, stating that all armed factions — including Hamas — will hand over weapons to the Palestinian state, and that Hamas will not have a role in governing Gaza.
President Abbas arrived in Rome on Wednesday for a three-day official visit, during which he met Pope Leo XIV. He is also scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
President Abbas was accompanied by Ziad Abu Amr, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO); Ramzi Khoury, PLO Executive Committee member and head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs; Majdi Khalidi, diplomatic advisor to the President; and Muna Abu Amara, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Italy.
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