Palestinian president rejects Israel’s move to divide Gaza into 2 sections

RAMALLAH, Palestine

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that any move by the Israeli occupation forces to divide Gaza into two sections is unacceptable and emphasized that the enclave is an integral part of Palestine.

Abbas held separate phone calls with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

During his conversation with Rutte, he said the Israeli military’s recent statement that its forces have divided Gaza into two as it reaches a “significant stage” in its war against the Palestinian group Hamas is unacceptable and there is no separate political or security solution for Gaza as it is an inseparable part of the Palestinian state.

“Today there is north Gaza and south Gaza,” Israel's military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Sunday after Israeli troops reached the coastline.

Abbas stressed the necessity of implementing a politically legitimate solution based on international standards for the freedom, independence and sovereignty of the Palestinian people.

When contacted by Albanese, Abbas emphasized the immediate need to stop the massacre against the Palestinian people.

Abbas noted that they are the legal representatives of the Palestinian people and that the right to make national decisions is vested in the Palestine Liberation Organization.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul