President Abbas Appreciates Italy's Humanitarian Support For Palestine When Meeting President Mattarella

President Abbas met President Mattarella. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - President Mahmoud Abbas appreciated Italy's humanitarian support for Palestine when he met President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on Friday.

During the meeting, President Abbas discussed bilateral relations with President Mattarella and the importance of maintaining and strengthening it.

He appreciated Italy's humanitarian support for the Palestinian people, including receiving injured children for treatment, training Palestinian police forces, participating in European monitoring missions at the Rafah crossing, and security cooperation between the two countries.

On the occasion President Abbas also explained the current situation in Palestine, including efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire, ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, secure the release of prisoners and hostages, oversee the full withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza, and allow the Palestinian State to take full responsibility there.

He also discussed the ongoing escalation of Israel in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the continued expansion of settlements, the violence of settlers against Palestinian civilians, land confiscation attempts, and attacks on Islamic and Christian holy places.

Furthermore, President Abbas reaffirmed Palestinian commitment to all previously promised reforms aimed at strengthening democratic and gun-free Palestinian states including holding elections within one year after the end of the war, issuing a provisional constitution, and enacting laws governing political parties and elections.

He stressed the principle of one state authority, one rule of law and one legitimate weapon, by stating that all armed factions including Hamas will hand over weapons to the Palestinian State, and Hamas will not play a role in the Gaza government.

President Abbas arrived in Rome on Wednesday for an official three-day visit, where he met Pope Leo XIV and made a pilgrimage to Pope Francis' grave. He is also scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.