BAKU, July 16, 2026 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, during his official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, held talks with Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov on enhancing bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Finance and Planning Stefan Salameh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Ambassador Omar Awadallah, and the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Azerbaijan, Ahmad Metani.
Mustafa briefed his Azerbaijani counterpart on the latest developments in Palestine, particularly the dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem. He highlighted the escalating attacks and acts of violence and terror carried out by Israeli colonists against the Palestinian people, including assaults targeting villages and residential communities.
He also outlined Israel's ongoing economic and financial measures, notably the continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, which undermine the government's ability to fulfill its obligations to the Palestinian people and sustain essential public services.
In addition, Mustafa pointed to the growing accumulation of Israeli shekels, which continues to strain the Palestinian economy, as well as restrictions on the freedom of movement of Palestinians and goods.
The Prime Minister also reviewed the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip amid Israel's ongoing killing and destruction, the continued closure of the crossings with the Strip, and the obstruction of the entry of reconstruction, relief and recovery materials and other essential supplies.
Mustafa expressed appreciation for Azerbaijan's continued political support for the State of Palestine and the Palestinian people, as well as its contributions in the fields of education and scholarships, humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, and support for UNRWA.
For his part, Asadov underscored the friendship and mutual respect that underpin Azerbaijani-Palestinian relations, stressing the importance of strengthening effective cooperation and mutual support within regional and international organizations.
He also reaffirmed Azerbaijan's support for a resolution of the Palestinian issue based on international legitimacy resolutions and the principles of international law, including the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The Prime Minister laid wreaths at the Victory Monument in tribute to those killed from Azerbaijan and the courage of its people, as well as at the Alley of Honors and the tomb of national leader Heydar Aliyev in Baku, the Azerbaijani capital.
T.R.
