Hussein al Sheikh calls for humanitarian aid, recognition of Palestinian state ahead of UN conference
Palestinian Vice President Hussein al Sheikh met Wednesday with the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Christophe Bigot, to discuss the need to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution ahead of a UN conference.
The meeting included Bigot's Chief of Staff and Political Advisor Martin Mikkelsen and EU Representative in Palestine Alexander Stutzmann, according to a statement by Al Sheikh on X.
"The prospects for political solutions were discussed, given the Palestinian leadership's efforts and priorities to halt the war of extermination waged by the occupation against our people," the statement said.
Al Sheikh emphasized the urgent need to secure a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza residents while formulating a "common political horizon."
He thanked the European Union for supporting Palestine and called on all EU countries to take "effective steps towards recognizing the Palestinian state."
Al Sheikh highlighted the significance of the upcoming UN conference on the two-state solution scheduled to take place in New York from June 17-20, describing it as an important opportunity "towards achieving a just peace in the region."
The conference, which will be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, will take place at UN headquarters and is expected to provide international support for two-state solution efforts.
Israel, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a genocidal offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing over 55,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants.
