RAMALLAH: Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh warned today that the Gaza Strip is facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, affirming the Strip’s need for a “Marshall Plan” that includes relief, reconstruction and economic recovery as soon as the aggression ends.
He made these remarks during a coordination meeting at his office in Ramallah with international partners, in the presence of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, the European Union Representative to the State of Palestine, Alexandre Stutzman and the World Bank’s Country Director for the West Bank and Gaza, Stefan Emblad.
Shtayyeh slammed the use of the veto by the United States at the UN Security Council to prevent the adoption of a draft resolution obligating Israel to stop its aggression against the Gaza Strip as a declaration of continued killing and destruction.
He noted that the humanitarian challenges in the Gaza Strip are the greatest in the con
temporary history of Palestine.
After the aggression, we will be responsible for thousands of families of those killed, orphaned and wounded children and families without shelters with only limited resources in light of the financial blockade imposed by Israel against the Palestinian Authority’s clearance funds.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of the integration of efforts and coordination between all international partners to plan and raise funds, implement the reconstruction process of the Strip and face the challenges resulting from the difficult and catastrophic conditions facing the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. He stressed the necessity of finding a political horizon that guarantees the non-repetition of these catastrophic conditions.
Shtayyeh pointed out that the West Bank is also suffering from Israeli aggression and attempts to undermine the Palestinian Authority, stressing the necessity of working toward enabling the Authority to carry out its role and strengthening the steadfa
stness of the Palestinian people.
The meeting also affirmed the priority of an immediate ceasefire, opening the crossings with Gaza to enable the entry of sufficient relief aid into Gaza and providing basic services in a manner that responds to the humanitarian crisis. He further stressed the need to create a political path that leads to a solution.
Shtayyeh also met with the Deputy Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS, Marina Walter, at his office in Ramallah and discussed means to enhance response to the emergency relief and humanitarian needs of the Strip’s population.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of the integration of efforts and continuous coordination with the government and all United Nations and relief institutions to confront all challenges emerging from the difficult and catastrophic conditions facing the people of the Strip due to the continued Israeli aggression.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA