Ramallah: The Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), led by Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh, convened on Saturday to evaluate the recent political and field developments in the occupied Palestinian Territory. The meeting aimed to make decisions to protect the rights of the Palestinian people and reinforce their resilience on their land.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, the committee expressed concern over the escalating situation in the occupied Palestinian Territory due to Israel's ongoing colonial expansion and the increasing violence by Israeli colonists, supported by the Israeli occupation authorities, against Palestinian communities. It called for the international community to take a firm stand against Israel's actions, which violate international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2334, reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlements.
The committee urged the international community to pressure Israel to stop colonist violence and indiscriminate terror, while also calling on the United Nations and other international bodies to provide urgent protection for Palestinians and to act against ethnic cleansing and forced displacement policies.
The Executive Committee praised the determination of the Palestinian people to remain on their land despite the actions of Israeli forces and colonists. It reaffirmed Palestinians' rights to defend themselves through peaceful resistance and called for international support to strengthen their resilience.
The committee welcomed the announcement of a second-phase agreement in the Gaza Strip ceasefire, underlining the importance of its full implementation to end the conflict permanently, alleviate humanitarian suffering, and ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. It expressed gratitude for the efforts of international and regional partners, including Egypt, Qatar, Trkiye, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the humanitarian aid provided by various countries.
The committee highlighted the necessity of adhering to the comprehensive peace plan under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, advocating for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, uninterrupted humanitarian aid, and the State of Palestine's assumption of responsibilities in Gaza. It emphasized that this should lead to a political process ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a sovereign Palestinian state based on the two-state solution with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa briefed the committee on the government's efforts to support Palestinians in Gaza despite financial difficulties, including allocating five billion shekels in salaries and aid, and organizing educational initiatives. An international donors' conference in Brussels secured $1 billion for the early recovery program's first phase, affirming Palestinian unity.
The Executive Committee reiterated its commitment to democratic processes as a necessity for state-building, advocating for legislative and Palestinian National Council elections. It stressed the importance of national dialogue to ensure successful elections and foster unity to address challenges to the Palestinian cause.