RAMALLAH, Palestine 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on late Thursday engaged in discussions with his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Diaz-Canel, concerning developments related to the Palestinian cause.

Abbas arrived in the Cuban capital Havana to attend the summit of Group 77+China on Friday, according to the official Wafa news agency.

During the meeting, Abbas briefed the Cuban president on the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people, their properties and their religious sites.

The Palestinian president also expressed his appreciation for Cuba's support for the just struggle of the Palestinian people as they strive to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns along with attacks and assaults carried out by Israeli settlers who are usually guarded by the Israeli army.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar