24/02/2021
- Pursuant to the Presidential decree issued by H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas to reinforce public freedoms and immediately release any detainees/ prisoners held in custody against the backdrop of practicing the freedom of opinion, political affiliation, or for any other partisan reasons: We demand the immediate release of more than 80 political detainees in the Gaza Strip. The government affirms its readiness to employ all its capabilities to successfully honor the foundations of democracy, freedom, political pluralism, and national partnership. We assure you that our security services do not keep any political prisoner in custody against the backdrop of opinion or political affiliation. Freedoms are safeguarded under the Palestinian Basic Law, which was confirmed through the Presidential decree.
- We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of martyr Daoud al-Khatib, who was buried yesterday in Bethlehem, five months following his death in Israeli prisons.
- We call upon the occupation authorities to release all martyrs' bodies. We also call on international human rights organizations to intervene and urge Israel to expedite the retrieval of martyrs' bodies so that their families can bid them farewell.
- Yesterday, the Egyptian Minister of Energy met with the Head of Energy Authority and the Palestine Investment Fund Director. In the presence of H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas, a Memorandum of Understanding related to the Gaza Gas project was signed. The Cabinet hails the Egyptian efforts in this issue.
- We have instructed the technical team to supply the Gaza Strip with the gas – to be developed by Egypt and not from the Israeli side within the bartering framework. Partnership with Egypt and disengaging from the occupation is at the core of our development strategy because Egypt forms our Arab depth and supports the Palestinian effort towards independence, freedom, and an independent state.
- The AHLC semi-annual meeting will be held virtually tomorrow due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have coordinated with several officials in countries attending the meeting to emphasize the importance of launching a new phase in Palestine towards the holding of elections - and economically by activating and accelerating development plans to compensate for Palestine's exceptional health and economic conditions last year.
- The holding of this meeting confirms the renewal of global interest in supporting efforts to embody the State of Palestine, away from any other plans to liquidate the Palestinian Question.
- Unemployment and poverty rates in the Gaza Strip have reached unprecedented numbers, and we will do everything possible to revive the national economy.
- The numbers of COVID-19 infections are increasing. It seems that a new wave is hitting the region and the world. Therefore, I ask the security forces to tighten the implementation of safety procedures. I also call upon our citizens to adhere to safety measures. We will continue to monitor the situation day-by-day closely. Hopefully, it won't be necessary to implement stricter measures.