Palestinian Reactions
Palestine welcomed, on Saturday, the European condemnation of Israeli settlement expansion, particularly in Jerusalem, emphasizing the importance of translating political stances into tangible practical steps. This came in a post published by Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh on the American platform "X," in response to the statement issued by the European Council at the end of its meeting held on Thursday and Friday.
European Council Stances
For its part, the European Council renewed its condemnation of unilateral Israeli measures aimed at expanding presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, noting that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice issued on July 19, 2024, deemed these measures illegal. The Council also strongly condemned the increasing violence of settlers against Palestinian civilians, calling for accountability for those responsible for these acts, and urging Israel to immediately halt settlement expansion and withdraw its tender for construction in Area E1.
Practical and Rights-Based Demands
Al-Sheikh pointed out that the European Council's recent stances confirmed the necessity of stopping settlement expansion, withdrawing the construction tender in Area E1, releasing Palestinian withholding funds, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches the Gaza Strip. He also appreciated the European stance supporting international law and the rights of the Palestinian people, as well as supporting reform efforts and strengthening national institutions to contribute to consolidating stability and realizing the people's aspirations.
Humanitarian and Security Context
Al-Sheikh emphasized the importance of translating these stances into effective steps to end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions. In the same context, the European Council expressed concern over the deterioration of conditions in Gaza and the West Bank, urging Israel to allow immediate and safe access for humanitarian aid, considering that the lack of progress in implementing the ceasefire threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis as winter approaches.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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