Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa held talks in Ramallah on Sunday with the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Christophe Bigot. The meeting covered the military offensive in the Gaza Strip and rising pressures across the West Bank.
During the session at his office, Mustafa detailed the impact of increased occupation measures and settler attacks in the West Bank. He also addressed Israel’s ongoing withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, which has now entered its eighteenth consecutive month.
Mustafa spoke about the necessity of collaborating with international partners, particularly the European Union, to bring stability to Palestinian territories. He told the envoy that such cooperation is vital for generating political and economic opportunities during a difficult period.
The prime minister provided an update on the government reform program, informing the EU representative that the initiative is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. He also called for sustained international financial backing to help the administration navigate its severe economic crisis.
Discussions also turned to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Mustafa stressed the priority of maintaining essential services, specifically mentioning health and education, and delivering additional assistance where feasible.
He pointed to the necessity of backing field interventions for early recovery. Restoring basic needs must serve as the foundation for any future reconstruction efforts in the enclave.
Several officials participated in the discussions alongside the prime minister. Finance and Planning Minister Stephan Salameh, Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Omar Awadallah, and EU Representative to Palestine Andreas Fiedler attended the meeting.
In a separate meeting on Sunday, Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh conferred with a senior European delegation. He discussed the recent escalation of Israeli settler attacks targeting Palestinians, their property, and foreign solidarity activists.
Al-Sheikh called for international measures to protect the Palestinian population. He also demanded accountability for those responsible for the violence.
