Ramalah, Palestine - Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa called for increased international pressure on Israel to stop attacking Palestinians and reopen all crossings in Gaza.
Mustafa conveyed the demands when meeting Deputy Prime Minister and Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel on Monday (10/3) at the prime minister's office in Ramallah, the occupied West Bank.
Mustafa urged EU countries to put more pressure on Israel to stop the attacks, open all Gaza crossings, and allow the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid, including temporary shelter supplies and reconstruction materials.
The call came after the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Qatar and Egypt with US support, expired on March 1.
After it ended, Israel again closed all Gaza crossings, blocking humanitarian aid in an attempt to pressure Hamas.
According to a statement from Mustafa's office, he also stressed the need to stop the Israeli military attacks on the northern West Bank, which have destroyed infrastructure, homes and public facilities and forced residents to leave their homes.
The Israeli military has continued its deadly attacks in the northern West Bank, killing at least 65 Palestinians and displacing thousands since January 21, 2025.
Mustafa expressed his appreciation for the European Union's support for the Gaza reconstruction plan that was agreed at the Arab League emergency summit in Cairo on March 4, 2025 and the meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The plan is estimated to cost US$53 billion (around Rp. 870.5 trillion) over five years without causing the displacement of Palestinians.
However, Israel and the United States rejected the plan, sticking to a proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump on January 25, 2025, which aims to transfer Palestinians in Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, a move rejected by both countries, as well as other Arab states and international institutions.
In response, Bettel stressed the urgency of ending the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, and reiterated Luxembourg's support for Palestinian ceasefire efforts, humanitarian aid and government reform, according to a statement released after the meeting.