Palestine calls for immediate action against Israeli operations in the West Bank

The Palestinian leadership demanded Israel take immediate action against acts of racism and crimes committed by gangs of settlers across the West Bank. A number of Israeli settlers kidnapped, killed and burnt Mohamed Abu Khdair, a Palestinian teen from Jerusalem.

In a statement issued yesterday, the leadership said: “We condemn this crime and we demand international protection for our people. They should not be left under the mercy of settlers.”

Palestinian citizens and their property, the statement explained, are subject to settlers’ attacks, which are carried out under the protection of Israeli forces.

On Tuesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas chaired meetings with Palestinian leaders in Ramallah. The meetings were attended by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who reviewed the latest developments that have taken place in the Palestinian territories and the implications of these developments on the Palestinian people.

“This meeting is allocated for discussing the measures that must be taken to protect our people from this escalating aggression. The policy of collective punishment of the Palestinian people that the Israeli government is adopting must stop,” the statement read.

The Palestinian leadership’s statement condemned the Israeli military operation in the West Bank and the raids on Gaza, which resulted in “house demolitions and cold blooded killing of innocents.”

Fifteen Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israeli operations in the West Bank.

Abbas noted that all Palestinian factions who met in Cairo agreed on endorsing peaceful Palestinian resistance for the Palestinians to attain their rights and establish an independent Palestinian state along the borders of 1967.

The Palestinian leadership called on the Israeli government not to exploit the incident of the abduction and killing of three Israeli settlers to continue with policies of escalation, settler activity and strict measures in Occupied Jerusalem.

The Palestinian leadership noted that violence breeds more violence and turbulence and results in a lack of regional stability.

The statement stressed that the Palestinian leadership is committed to international treaties and agreements, including its right to join all international organisations and treaties so as to protect Palestinians’ legitimate rights. The Palestinians urged the US Administration to shoulder its responsibility and intervene to protect the Palestinian people.

During their meeting, Palestinian leaders discussed a report presented by the committee in charge of Palestine’s joining of international treaties and agreements. The Palestinian leaders also affirmed their keenness on fostering the success of national reconciliation efforts. They stressed the Palestinian leadership’s support for uniting the nation and ending the division, calling on all the forces of Palestinian society to support the current government and elevate the obstacles that may hinder its work.