RAMALLAH, June 23, 2026 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said on Tuesday that security, stability, and peace in the region can only be achieved through ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent, contiguous, and viable Palestinian state in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
The Prime minister made these remarks during a joint briefing session and meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office with European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica, attended by the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process Christophe Bigot, the European Union Representative to Palestine Alexandre Stutzmann, Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Stephan Salameh.
Addressing Israeli policies, the Prime Minister stated: “What Israel is carrying out on the ground, whether in the Gaza Strip or in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, is not merely a series of isolated actions. Rather, it is a deliberate and systematic policy aimed at dismantling the Palestinian existence, undermining the two-State solution, and closing the horizon for an independent Palestinian state. At the forefront of these policies is the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip and the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe it has caused.”
The Prime Minister further highlighted policies of settlement expansion and de facto annexation of Palestinian land, as well as systematic settler attacks that enjoy official Israeli protection, support, and impunity. He also pointed to escalating Israeli restrictions on freedom of movement and attacks targeting religious and cultural heritage sites, all aimed at creating irreversible facts on the ground.
Mustafa stressed that “the financial and economic blockade poses a serious threat to the sustainability of Palestinian institutions. Israel continues to unlawfully withhold Palestinian clearance revenues, which have now accumulated to approximately $6 billion. In addition, nearly $5 billion belonging to Palestinian banks remains frozen after the Bank of Israel refused to receive these funds, resulting in annual losses to the Palestinian economy estimated at $11 billion.”
He added: “Despite these exceptional circumstances, the Government has continued implementing its reform agenda and strengthening the performance of public institutions based on Palestinian national priorities and interests, in coordination with the European Union and international partners.” He emphasized that sustaining and advancing these reforms, as well as strengthening Palestinian institutions, requires the necessary political, financial, and operational environment, including an end to Israeli measures that undermine the Palestinian economy and institutions.
The Prime Minister called on international partners, foremost among them the European Union, to continue playing their role in safeguarding the two-State solution, supporting institutional and financial stability, and taking effective and decisive steps to halt Israeli policies and practices that violate international law and to ensure accountability, thereby contributing to justice for the Palestinian people.
Mustafa also reaffirmed that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the State of Palestine and that the Palestinian National Authority is the legitimate body capable of fulfilling its responsibilities and serving the Palestinian people in Gaza, as is the case throughout the occupied Palestinian Territory. He called for intensified efforts to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, including securing a ceasefire, providing urgent humanitarian relief, supporting early recovery and reconstruction, restoring basic services, and ultimately returning Gaza to the governance of the State of Palestine.
The Prime Minister further commended the resilience and steadfastness of the Palestinian people, stressing that supporting their resilience and enhancing the capacity of Palestinian institutions to carry out their responsibilities and recovery efforts represents an investment in peace and stability across the region.
European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica reaffirmed the European Union’s continued support for Palestine, noting that strong and well-governed Palestinian institutions are essential to advancing this path. She also stressed that settlement expansion and the escalating attacks by Israeli settlers are undermining the reform efforts.
Commissioner Šuica further stated that the ongoing humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip remains unacceptable and that the European Union is working extensively to help bring an end to this suffering. She underscored the urgent need to facilitate the entry of humanitarian and relief assistance into Gaza, leading ultimately to full recovery and reconstruction.
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