Speaking at the outset of cabinet weekly meeting held in Ramallah, PM Dr. Shtayyeh expressed concern over the killings of Palestinians by Israeli gunfire. Prime Minister stressed that the continuity of such crimes against Palestinians would not have been possible without International double-standard policy and Israel’s impunity, which allows Israel to continue its crimes without accountability. PM further added that statements expressing concern over the killings of Palestinians are not enough.

Prime minister, Dr. Shtayyeh said that the gravity of the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation, along with the devastating effects of these crimes on all aspects of life, no longer commensurate with International community expressing concern over the ongoing killing of Palestinians by Israeli army gunfire. He added that the continuity of such crimes against the Palestinians would not have been possible without the selective approach of the international community and its double-standard policy, which benefits Israel in particular, and allows Israeli perpetrators to continue with their crimes, disregarding international law. 

The Prime Minister welcomed the United Nations (UN) and European Union’s (EU) efforts for opening an investigation into the killing of 22-year-old Ammar Mefleh, whose death was caught on video and was widely shared on social media. Dr. Shtayyeh urged the international community to take serious steps to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for such crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice. 

The Council of Ministers concluded this meeting by commending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approving a resolution to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, on 15th May next year. The Cabinet regarded this decision as an endorsement by the Assembly of the historical injustice that had befallen on Palestinians in 1948, and called for Palestinians right to self-determination and establishing an independent State on the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.