Vice President of the State of Palestine, Mr. Hussein Al Sheikh, received the Canadian Representative to the Palestinian Authority, Graham Dattels, at his office in Ramallah today. The two leaders discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly the humanitarian and political situation in the Gaza Strip. The meeting addressed international efforts to end the war in the Gaza Strip, and the humanitarian catastrophe, and provide immediate and urgent humanitarian aid. They also addressed domestic reform efforts at various levels, as well as the deteriorating security and financial situation in the West Bank. Mr. Dattels affirmed his country’s condemnation of starvation as a political tool in the Gaza Strip and called on Israel to immediately cease the war. He also reiterated Canada’s condemnation of Israeli violations in the West Bank, including settlement expansion, settler violence, and the illegal withholding of Palestinian Authority funds. Canada’s steadfast and supportive position toward the Palestinian people and their leadership was emphasized, along with Ottawa’s continued provision of financial, security, and political support to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause in international forums. Al Sheikh praised Canada’s political position calling for an immediate end to the war and starvation in the Gaza Strip, and for an end to Israeli violations in the West Bank. He also commended Canada’s continued support for the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority, and all its institutions. He called on Canada to recognize the State of Palestine as a fundamental part of carrying the hopes of the Palestinian people and working to end the occupation and achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region.

We reject any form of guardianship over the Rafah crossing and attempts to undermine Palestinian sovereignty over it in partnership with our brothers in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Today, Monday, I met with the Head of the German Representative Office for Palestine, His Excellency Ambassador Oliver Owcza.

We discussed the latest developments on the internal, regional and international political scene, including the formation of the new government headed by Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, and the intensified regional efforts in close coordination with our Arab brothers, and the vigorous international action with friendly countries to end the war and the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, and the escalation of Israeli violations in the West Bank, and the confiscation of Palestinian Authority revenues.

The necessity of recognizing the Palestinian state and the importance of this step were also emphasized. On the other hand, Mr. Owcza stressed his country’s firm position in support of reaching an immediate and durable ceasefire, implementing the two-state solution, and establishing an independent State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

We welcome the decision of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to recognize the State of Palestine. We hope that the countries of the world that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine will immediately take the initiative to make their decision and uphold international rights, law and international legitimacy and recognize the State of Palestine.

Today I met with the representative of Japan in Palestine, His Excellency Ambassador Yoichi Nakashima. First, I extended my sincere thanks and gratitude to the friendly government and people of Japan for the vote in support of the State of Palestine in the last Security Council session. I also thanked the government and people of Japan for their steadfast support for Palestine.

During the meeting, we discussed the latest developments in the internal, regional and international political arena, including the formation of the new government headed by Dr. Muhammad Mustafa, the intense regional efforts in close coordination with our Arab brothers, and the vigorous international action with friendly countries to end the war and the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip on the first day after the 200th of the devastating war in the Strip.

The escalation of Israeli violations in the West Bank targeting all Palestinians was also discussed, including escalating settler violence, city incursions, settlement expansion, and withholding of Palestinian Authority funds. On the other hand, His Excellency Ambassador Nakashima stressed his country’s firm position in support of reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire, implementing the two-state solution, and establishing an independent State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Today, Thursday, I received the Italian Consul General in Jerusalem, Domenico Bellato.

During the meeting, we discussed the latest political developments in the Palestinian arena, the latest of which is the formation of the new government headed by Dr. Muhammad Mustafa, and the intensive efforts in coordination and cooperation with our Arab brothers to end the war and the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Bellato stressed the call to stop the war and the call to support the political path that guarantees calm in the region and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the two-state solution based on international legitimacy.

We welcome the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

We call for a permanent cessation to this criminal war and Israel’s immediate withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Today, Wednesday, I met with European Union representative Alexander Stutzman.

We discussed the latest political developments on the Palestinian, regional and international scene, the most important of which is stopping the war and the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, as well as the dangers of the Israeli invasion of Rafah and our rejection of displacement, and the detention of Palestinian funds by the Israeli government was addressed.

Mr. Stutzman stressed the call to stop the war immediately and the call to support the political path that guarantees calm and stability in the region, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the two-state solution on the basis of international legitimacy.

Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Hussein al-Sheikh said on Thursday that the US pproval of a bill to ban the entry of members of the Palestine Liberation Organization into the United States of America is a ‘dangerous decision.’

The PLO official took to his official page on X, formerly known as Twitter, to the slam the decision towards ‘the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.’

“The US House of Representatives’ approval of a bill to ban the entry of members of the Palestine Liberation Organization into the United States of America is a dangerous decision towards the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people,” he said. “We consider it a decision that harms the rights of our Palestinian people and goes beyond the international position that recognizes these rights and recognizes the organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.”

“This requires a response and clarification from the US administration,” he demanded.

In response to several countries announcing their withdrawal of funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Hussein Al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has called for an immediate reconsideration of this decision.

In a press statement, Al-Sheikh expressed concerns over the potentially severe political and humanitarian consequences associated with such a move. “We urge the countries that have declared a halt to their support for the UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision, which carries significant political and humanitarian risks.” 

He emphasized the critical importance of international assistance, especially during ongoing Israeli war against the Palestinian people.

“At a time like this, amid the continued aggression against the Palestinian population, we are in desperate need of support rather than cutting off crucial aid and assistance for this international organization,” he added.