Palestinian President Abbas: There is no State without Gaza

Israeli military in the Gaza Strip. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable territory of Palestine, there is no state without the enclave.

He said this at a joint press conference with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara. The president was in the Turkish capital on Tuesday at the invitation of President Erdoğan.

He said he had had "very important and productive" talks on developments in the region and bilateral relations with President Erdoğan, adding that they agreed to strengthen bilateral dialogue.

President Abbas said a just peace can only be achieved by ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem - currently occupied by Israel - as its capital.

President Abbas called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the immediate restoration of the legitimate Palestinian sovereignty in Gaza, while affirming that the enclave is an integral part of the Palestinian state.

"It is impossible to have a state in Gaza, and it is impossible to have a state without Gaza," he said, launching Anadolu (13/8).

President Abbas and President Erdoğan during a joint press conference. (Source: Presidency of The Republic of Turkiye)

President Abbas said that achieving this goal within the framework of international law and the Arab Peace Initiative is important.

"The Palestinian people expect continued support from Turkey until they achieve independence and freedom," President Abbas said.

He said a ceasefire in Gaza had been achieved thanks to the efforts of Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and the United States, but humanitarian aid had not yet entered the enclave.

Furthermore, President Abbas also emphasized the importance of the establishment of political institutions and financial independence for a fully functioning Palestinian state, while mentioning that Israel has withheld funds belonging to the Palestinians amounting to approximately 6.5 billion US dollars.

The meeting was also used by the two to discuss the tensions exacerbated by Israel in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as the terrorism of the occupation parties operating under the protection of the Israeli army.

President Abbas said Israel continued to launch attacks on holy sites belonging to Muslims and Christians without distinction.

He emphasized that the Palestinian people would remain steadfast in defending their land and rejecting forced expulsion, referring to UN Security Council Resolution 2334 which reaffirmed that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories were illegal.

He stressed the importance of protecting Muslim and Christian holy sites and realizing Palestinian unity and comprehensive national reconciliation.

"We are one country and will remain one country, united under one legislative body and one authority," he said.