Palestinian Representative Highlights Crisis and Calls for End to Occupation
Rula Almhaissen, a Palestinian representative, has voiced grave concerns over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing a rising death toll from starvation alongside the over 66,000 Palestinians already lost in the conflict. She emphasized the urgent need for emergency assistance,including food and medicine,to reach the region.Almhaissen stated that halting what she termed a ”genocide” is the primary priority for the Palestinian people.
Following a press conference with Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu affirmed in a Hebrew-language video that Israel “absolutely not” agreed to the formation of a Palestinian state. Almhaissen responded by stating this outcome was anticipated, asserting that Netanyahu has consistently obstructed peace efforts and demonstrated a lack of interest in securing the release of Israeli hostages. She accused him of prioritizing the expansion of Israeli territory in the West Bank and towards the coast.
Almhaissen stressed the importance of including the West Bank in any peace plan, noting that the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West bank, has expressed a positive view towards peace initiatives, despite the West Bank not being explicitly mentioned in current proposals.
The situation in the West Bank is also dire, according to Almhaissen. As the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, at least 979 Palestinians and 35 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank, according to the UN Humanitarian Assistance Office. She highlighted the increasing number of Israeli settlements - considered illegal under international law - and the recent adoption of a non-binding motion by the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) to annex the West Bank. Almhaissen described escalating attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers, increased checkpoints isolating Palestinian cities, restrictions on movement of people and goods, and the seizure of Palestinian tax revenue by Israel as undermining peace efforts.
Almhaissen argued that a lasting peace agreement must extend beyond Gaza to encompass the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and cannot be achieved while settlers continue to attack Palestinians and destroy their property.
When questioned about security guarantees for Israel should Hamas approve a plan granting Palestinians self-governance in gaza, Almhaissen asserted that the cessation of the occupation is the only guarantee. She explained that decades of suffering and failed peace attempts have fueled frustration, and that the October 7th attack, while distanced from by Fatah, was a outcome of prolonged oppression.
Addressing the violence of October 7th, Almhaissen stated that Palestinian resistance takes various forms, emphasizing a commitment to legal and political methods and international law. However, she also called for accountability for what she described as “horrors” committed by Israel, and criticized what she perceives as a double standard in international application of law.
Efforts to obtain comment from Israel’s ambassador to Sweden, Ziv Nevo Kulman, were unsuccessful, with the embassy referring inquiries to official Israeli government statements.
