UNION, February 26 (Xinhua) — In response to the departure of Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh’s administration, a UN spokeswoman stated that the international community wants to see a stronger and more powerful Palestinian government.
According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is aware of Shtayyeh’s announcement on Monday that he has given Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas the resignation of his cabinet.
The only path to establishing a fully autonomous, democratic, contiguous, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 lines—of which Gaza is an integral part—remains to be a strengthened and empowered Palestinian government with the authority to govern the entirety of the occupied Palestinian territory, the spokesman stated.
He told a daily press briefing that the UN is prepared to support ongoing efforts to help the Palestinian people overcome their humanitarian, political, financial, and security issues.
Regarding the situation on the ground, the spokesman stated that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Health Organization, along with the Palestine Red Crescent Society,
According to a spokeswoman for the UN Population Fund, premature deliveries are being caused by the ceaseless bombs, women’s panic, and inability to attend prenatal or postnatal exams, which is killing newborns in Gaza.
According to OCHA’s daily assessment on the situation in Gaza, there were reports of ongoing, intensive Israeli shelling on Monday throughout a large portion of the Gaza Strip. This led to additional civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Heavy fighting and ground operations between Palestinian armed factions and Israeli forces persisted as well. OCHA said that armed Palestinian organizations reportedly fired tens of rockets toward Israel between Friday and Monday.
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 29,782 Palestinians have died and 70,043 have been injured in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to OCHA. ■