Mahmoud Abbas meets Italy's PM in Rome - a push for Palestinian statehood, assalamu alaykum
Assalamu alaykum. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday as part of efforts to gain broader recognition of Palestinian statehood from Western countries.
The visit comes about a month after a US-mediated ceasefire in Gaza. Fighting has continued at a reduced intensity compared with the worst of the last two years, with reports of 241 Palestinians in Gaza and two Israeli soldiers killed since the ceasefire.
In a meeting with Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, Mr Abbas reiterated Palestine’s commitment to reforms meant to build a democratic, non-militarised Palestinian state, the official Palestinian agency reported. Those reforms include holding elections within a year after the war ends, issuing a temporary constitution, and passing laws to regulate political parties and elections.
Mr Abbas said that armed groups, including Hamas, would hand over weapons to the Palestinian state and that Hamas would not take part in governing Gaza.
Based mainly in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority leader arrived in Rome on Wednesday and visited the Basilica of St Mary Major to pay respects at the tomb of Pope Francis. Mr Abbas has met Pope Francis several times and kept frequent phone contact following Hamas’s October 7 attacks and the subsequent Israeli operations in Gaza. He also met Pope Leo XIV on Thursday to discuss the conflict.
The Holy See said both sides in that meeting recognised the urgent need to assist civilians in Gaza and to pursue a two-state solution to end the conflict.
Mr Abbas’s trip included marking the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine. Palestinian diplomats say Western pressure on Israel, including recognition of Palestinian statehood - which Israel opposes - is important for achieving a lasting peace.
Italy has made clear it expects Hamas to be excluded from Gaza’s governance and for all hostages to be returned to Israel as conditions tied to its recognition of Palestinian statehood. While living hostages have been returned, attention remains on the remains of those who died, with six bodies still in Gaza after the recent return of one Tanzanian victim. For each body returned, Israel has reportedly released remains of multiple Palestinians. The exchanges have been slow and contentious, delaying the next phase of the ceasefire plan that would set new governance structures for Gaza.
Palestine’s envoy to Italy had expressed hope that Italy might move closer to recognising a Palestinian state during Mr Abbas’s visit, though analysts expected Italy to act cautiously.
May Allah grant ease to the innocent civilians affected by this conflict and guide leaders toward a just and lasting solution. Salam.
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