Amman, December 23 (Petra) – Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Ayman Safadi met on Tuesday with Palestinian Vice President Hussein Sheikh to discuss efforts to consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza and halt Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank.
During the meeting in Amman, the two officials prioritised upholding the Gaza ceasefire, ensuring full compliance with its provisions and advancing toward the second phase of the agreement in line with US President Donald Trump's plan.
They agreed that efforts to achieve stability must be linked to a clear political horizon leading to a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.
Safadi and Sheikh underscored that the future of the Gaza Strip must be grounded in its unity with the occupied West Bank, with the Palestinian National Authority assuming responsibility for the enclave in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
They affirmed that Gaza is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory, on which an independent and sovereign Palestinian state must be established in line with the two-state solution, international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.
The top officials stressed the need to intensify efforts to deliver sufficient and immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza, calling on Israel to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement and international law and to lift all restrictions on the entry of aid.
Safadi and Sheikh discussed the worsening situation in the occupied West Bank, emphasising the urgency of coordinated regional and international efforts to halt illegal Israeli measures that risk triggering further violence and undermining prospects for a just and lasting peace.
They urged Israel to respect the historical and legal status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem and to lift restrictions on freedom of worship.
They called for an end to all limitations imposed on Christians' ability to practice their religious rites, particularly during religious holidays.
The meeting concluded with an affirmation of continued consultation and coordination, as well as joint efforts with regional and international partners to achieve a just and comprehensive peace through ending the occupation and establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.
//Petra// AK
