Palestinian presidency, PM welcome Egypt-brokered Israel-Gaza ceasefire efforts

CAIRO – 21 May 2021: The Palestinian presidency and Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh welcomed on Friday the success of international efforts spearheaded by Egypt over the past few days to reach a ceasefire agreement and end the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

In a statement issued Friday, the Palestinian presidency praised the efforts of the US administration, the European Union and the UN, along with Jordan and Qatar to achieve this step.

The statement also paid tribute to the steadfastness and sacrifices of the Palestinian people.

It is high-time the international community takes practical and serious steps to stop the constant Israeli crimes against the Palestinians which left hundreds killed, thousands injured and displaced, the statement read.

Shtayyeh expressed gratitude to all countries that responded to the call forwarded by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the first days of the Israeli aggression to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to bring an end to the Israeli hostilities.

“Our people in the Gaza Strip fell prey over the past 11 days to killings, intimidation and genocide which led to the decimation of over 20 families, claimed the lives of scores of children, women and elderly people, left hundreds injured and wreaked havoc across the Palestinian enclave that has already been strangled by a 15-year-old Israeli blockade, Shtayyeh said in statements to the press.

He commended the speeches given by sisterly and friendly nations to express condemnation of the war crimes perpetrated by Israel against civilians in the Gaza Strip and praised their calls to seek a political settlement for the Palestinian crisis that conforms with international legitimacy resolutions.