Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced that the government considers the recent developments that have taken place in the Gaza Strip to be an implementation of the “deal of the century” US peace proposal, adding that they correspond to the plans announced by the US president’s advisor, Jared Kushner, at the Manama workshop in June.
Speaking at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting in Ramallah Monday, Shtayyeh said the US hospital that will be built near the Gaza border, as well as the industrial cities, ports and floating islands, all embody the US plan that refuses to acknowledge the political demands and national rights of the Palestinian people.
These projects and schemes aim at eliminating the Palestinian national project, he said, stressing that the government rejects all Israeli settlement plans, especially in the cities of Jerusalem and Hebron.
The PM called on the international community to take immediate measures against such plans.
“The new settlement project in Hebron’s wholesale market confirms Israel’s insistence on waging a direct confrontation as it implements a destructive scheme with broad political objectives,” he was quoted by the Wafa news agency as saying.
The premier asserted that these plans have come to light as settlers are escalating their violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank under Israeli army protection and command.
He pointed out that the timing of these projects is “deliberate” because they coincide with the discussion on Palestinian elections, restoring national unity, and while Gaza is under siege.
In reality, however, Shtayyeh said these projects perpetuate the status quo in the Gaza Strip and deviate attention from national unity, warning that they strike at the foundations of the Palestinian national project.
He stressed the need to end the intra-Palestinian division by holding the general elections, which are the basic and democratic way to achieve that.
Hamas is seeking a long-term truce with Israel, which includes projects in the Gaza Strip, in return for halting attacks and reaching an agreement on the issue of Hamas detainees and prisoners.
The Palestinian Authority considers this an attempt to separate Gaza from the West Bank and preparation to establishing a new state within the enclave.
