NICOSIA, October 29, 2026 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas met with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia on Thursday to discuss strengthening historic bilateral relations, developments in Palestine and the region, and efforts to achieve peace and stability in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.
President Abbas praised Cyprus’s support for the rights of the Palestinian people and their cause in international forums, as well as its humanitarian assistance, particularly to the Gaza Strip. He stressed the importance of continued coordination and cooperation to serve both peoples and advance prospects for peace.
The President briefed his Cypriot counterpart on the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza amid continued killing, destruction, starvation and attempts to displace Palestinians. He called for the swift implementation of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to consolidate stability and reunify the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, under the authority of the State of Palestine and its legitimate institutions.
President Abbas reiterated his rejection of any attempt to undermine the unity of Palestinian territory or the sovereign institutions of the State of Palestine. He stressed that Gaza is an integral part of the State of Palestine and that there can be no alternative to Palestinian legitimacy and national institutions.
He also outlined the continued escalation by Israeli forces and colonists in the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, citing attacks, colonial expansion, attempts at annexation and displacement, and ongoing violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites. He warned that these policies threaten prospects for peace and stability across the region.
The meeting also addressed the financial and economic restrictions imposed by the Israeli government on Palestine, including its continued withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues, which Abbas said amounted to approximately $7 billion. He said the withholding had deepened the financial crisis and placed further pressure on the government’s ability to meet its obligations and provide essential services.
President Abbas briefed Christodoulides on the government’s achievements under its national reform program, reaffirming its commitment to renewing national legitimacy and strengthening democratic life. He cited local elections as part of this process and reiterated plans to hold presidential and legislative elections in 2027.
He said the State of Palestine was prepared to bring the elections forward if obstacles were removed and the necessary conditions were secured. President Abbas also stressed the importance of inviting representatives of the European Union and several countries to assess the situation, particularly after the Israeli elections, and work together to overcome obstacles so that an early date for Palestinian elections could be set.
The President emphasized the importance of further strengthening Palestinian-Cypriot relations and expanding cooperation across various fields.
The meeting was attended by PLO Executive Committee member Ziad Abu Amr, General Intelligence Service chief Majed Faraj, presidential diplomatic adviser Majdi al-Khalidi, and Palestine’s ambassador to Cyprus, Abdullah Attari.
President Abbas arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday evening for an official visit at the invitation of Christodoulides
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