Washington Affirms Commitment to Two-state Solution, Reopening US Consulate in Jerusalem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan - (DPA)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan - (DPA)
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Washington Affirms Commitment to Two-state Solution, Reopening US Consulate in Jerusalem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan - (DPA)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan - (DPA)

United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan assured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Washington is committed to the two-state solution it promised to the Palestinians.

This came during the “frank and clear" talks between Abbas and Sullivan on Thursday, said the Palestinian presidency spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh.

Abbas said Palestinians are still waiting for President Joe Biden to implement his promises regarding the two-state solution, halting settlements, not displacing Jerusalemite citizens and reopening the US Consulate in East Jerusalem.

According to Abu Rudeineh, Sullivan affirmed that the administration is keen to resolve all these issues.

He told Bennett that Biden is committed to the two-state solution, plans to reopen the US consulate in Jerusalem and has reservations about all the settlement measures, the spokesman added.

The meeting took place following the top US official’s recent meetings with Israeli officials which focused on Iran’s nuclear plans.

Abbas and Sullivan agreed on the importance of joint action by all relevant parties to achieve peace and stability in the region.

Sullivan conveyed Biden’s greetings to Abbas and his affirmation of the US commitment to the two-state solution.

Abbas, for his part, briefed Sullivan on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, urging the US to put an end to settlement activities and settlers's attacks.

He underscored the importance of respecting the historical situation in Al-Aqsa Mosque, ending the expulsion of Palestinian residents from Jerusalem neighborhoods, halting tax cuts and the stifling of the Palestinian economy.

“Abbas stressed the need to end unilateral Israeli practices that undermine the two-state solution and implement the signed agreements to start a real political process, in line with the international legitimacy and UN resolutions.”

He also underlined the importance of bolstering bilateral ties and overcoming the obstacles that hinder their development.



At Least 25 People Killed by Israeli Gunshots and Strikes in Gaza, Some While Seeking Aid

26 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Relatives of Palestinians who lost their lives mourn in Al-Shifa Hospital after an Israeli bombing at buildings sheltering displaced people in Gaza city. (dpa)
26 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Relatives of Palestinians who lost their lives mourn in Al-Shifa Hospital after an Israeli bombing at buildings sheltering displaced people in Gaza city. (dpa)
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At Least 25 People Killed by Israeli Gunshots and Strikes in Gaza, Some While Seeking Aid

26 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Relatives of Palestinians who lost their lives mourn in Al-Shifa Hospital after an Israeli bombing at buildings sheltering displaced people in Gaza city. (dpa)
26 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Relatives of Palestinians who lost their lives mourn in Al-Shifa Hospital after an Israeli bombing at buildings sheltering displaced people in Gaza city. (dpa)

At least 25 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and gunshots overnight, according to health officials and the ambulance service on Saturday, as ceasefire talks appear to have stalled and Palestinians in Gaza face famine.

The majority of victims were killed by gunfire as they waited for aid trucks close to the Zikim crossing with Israel, said staff at Shifa hospital, where the bodies were brought.

Israel's army didn’t respond to request for comments about the latest shootings.

Those killed in strikes include four people in an apartment building in Gaza City among others, hospital staff and the ambulance service said.

The strikes come as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have hit a standstill after the USand Israel recalled their negotiating teams on Thursday, throwing the future of the talks into further uncertainty.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday his government was considering “alternative options” to ceasefire talks with Hamas. His comments came as a Hamas official said negotiations were expected to resume next week and portrayed the recall of the Israeli and American delegations as a pressure tactic.

Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks alongside the United States, said the pause was only temporary and that talks would resume, though they did not say when.

For desperate Palestinians a ceasefire can't come soon enough.

The United Nations and experts say that Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of famine, with reports of increasing numbers of people dying from causes related to malnutrition.

While Israel’s army says it’s allowing aid into the enclave with no limit on the number of trucks that can enter, the UN says it is hampered by Israeli military restrictions on its movements and incidents of criminal looting.

The Zikim crossing shootings come days after at least 79 Palestinians were killed trying to reach aid entering through the same crossing. Israel's military said at the time its soldiers shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians who posed a threat, and that it was aware of some casualties.

Israel is facing increased international pressure to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than two dozen Western-aligned countries and more than 100 charity and human rights groups have called for an end to the war, harshly criticizing Israel’s blockade and a new aid delivery model it has rolled out.

The charities and rights groups said even their own staff were struggling to get enough food

For the first time in months Israel said it is allowing airdrops, requested by Jordan. A Jordanian official said the airdrops will mainly be food and milk formula.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in a newspaper article on Saturday that the UK was “working urgently” with Jordan to get British aid into Gaza.

Aid group the World Central Kitchen said on Friday that it was resuming limited cooking operations in Deir al-Balah after being forced to halt due to a lack of food supplies.

It said it's trying to serve 60,000 meals daily through its field kitchen and partner community kitchens, less than half of what it's cooked over the previous month.