Abbas Urges Israel to Remove Gaza Ceasefire Obstacles

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas has urged Israel to eliminate all hindrances obstructing the execution of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. Speaking through his prime minister Mohammed Mustafa at an African Union summit in Ethiopia, Abbas stressed the importance of removing Israeli-imposed barriers that impede the operationalization of the ceasefire terms. He specifically highlighted the impediments faced by a technocratic committee tasked with overseeing daily governance in Gaza. Abbas emphasized that the removal of these obstacles is crucial for maintaining essential services, coordinating humanitarian activities, and facilitating a prompt recovery process. Accusing Israel of ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement, Abbas pointed out that over 500 Palestinians in Gaza have lost their lives since the truce was declared, posing a threat to the ceasefire’s sustainability and the successful implementation of its subsequent phase. Despite transitioning into the second phase of the US-mediated ceasefire agreement a month ago, clashes persist in the Palestinian region, with both Israel and Hamas engaging in mutual accusations.