ATHENS, April 17, 2026 (WAFA) – Vice President of the State of Palestine Hussein Al-Sheikh met on Thursday with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the Greek capital Athens.

The Vice President was accompanied by a senior Palestinian delegation that included Head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, Majid Faraj, Presidential Adviser Majdi Al-Khaldi, and Palestinian Ambassador to Greece Yussef Dorkhom.

Al-Sheikh conveyed greetings from President Mahmoud Abbas and expressed appreciation for the friendly relations between the two countries and peoples, praising Greece’s supportive positions toward Palestine in international forums, as well as its humanitarian support.

The two sides discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation and the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian Territory and the region, where Al-Sheikh warned of the seriousness of Israeli escalation in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, due to colonial expansion, annexation attempts, and colonists’ terror, calling for the immediate release of withheld Palestinian funds held by Israel.

He also called for freedom of access for worshippers to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and for preserving the legal and historical status quo of holy sites. He also addressed the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip due to the continued blockade and closure of crossings.

The Vice President reaffirmed the State of Palestine’s welcome of US President Donald Trump’s plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803, stressing the importance of advancing the activation of the coordination office between the Palestinian government and the executive bodies of the Peace Council, implementing the second phase, and proceeding with recovery and reconstruction efforts toward a political solution in line with international legitimacy.

He also stressed the unity of the Palestinian territory in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, rejecting any attempts to separate the Gaza Strip as an integral part of the State of Palestine, reaffirming commitment to the principle of one state, one law, and one legitimate weapon, and linking Palestinian institutions in Gaza and the West Bank under the umbrella of the Palestinian government.

Al-Sheikh reiterated commitment to implementing reform programs as a national Palestinian priority, expressing Palestine’s welcome of the ceasefire, and full solidarity with Gulf countries and Jordan in safeguarding their sovereignty, security, and stability against any aggression.

He also welcomed the ceasefire in brotherly Lebanon, affirming support for its sovereignty and stability, and Palestine’s welcome of Pakistani mediation efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire.

He further emphasized the importance of continued political coordination with Greece and the European Union and joint efforts to implement the two-state solution, renewing the call for Greece to recognize the State of Palestine as a step toward achieving peace.

Earlier, the Palestinian delegation, headed by the Vice President, also met with the Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

T.R.