Ramallah: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Aghabekian stated that Palestine is on the verge of a significant and eventful week, with the international community increasingly focusing on the Palestinian cause.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Aghabekian, speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Ramallah, highlighted the Palestinian government's top priorities as ending the genocide and starvation in Gaza, preventing forced displacement, and ensuring protection for the Palestinian people. She noted the growing international support for Palestinian rights and emphasized that Palestinian diplomacy aims to garner the broadest possible backing for these rights.
The Foreign Minister announced that a number of countries are expected to recognize the State of Palestine in the coming two days, describing this recognition as a legal and natural right that brings hope to the Palestinian people for a free and sovereign state. She stated that the move reflects international support for the Palestinian leadership, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and the global belief in peace and the two-state solution.
Aghabekian stressed that international recognition of the State of Palestine affirms that Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land. She expressed gratitude to the countries that have already recognized Palestine and those preparing to do so, urging others to follow suit. She reiterated that the occupation is the root cause of instability in the region and the suffering of the Palestinian people, which must come to an end.
The minister further urged the international community to expose and confront Israel's actions, stating that silence from some governments can only be interpreted as complicity. She called for decisive global action to halt the destruction, genocide, and mass killings against the Palestinian people. Aghabekian emphasized that the genocide in Gaza is occurring alongside ongoing aggression in the West Bank, revealing Israel's intention to maintain regional tension.
Responding to questions about threats related to the wave of recognitions, Aghabekian linked these threats to international expectations outlined in the New York Declaration, which calls for practical steps to deter the occupation. She noted that recognitions from influential states are expanding and strengthening international support for the Palestinian cause.
Regarding post-war plans for Gaza, Aghabekian affirmed that any proposal must involve the Palestinian National Authority as the sole legitimate body with the right to govern the Gaza Strip.
