Ramallah and Al-Bire Governor Leila Gannam met with Turkiye's Consul General in Palestine Ismail Cobanoglu to discuss Israel's increasing attacks on Palestinian territories and recent developments in the region.
During the meeting, Gannam detailed the attacks that Palestinian cities and villages are subjected to by the Israeli army and Jewish settlers. She also described the financial difficulties faced by Palestinians due to Israel's seizure of clearance revenues and economic restrictions.
Governor Gannam emphasized the depth of Palestinian-Turkish relations and praised Turkiye's political and development support for Palestine. Drawing attention to violations against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Gannam expressed the Palestinian people's commitment to their land and rights.
Turkish Consul General Cobanoglu stated that Turkiye will continue its political, humanitarian and legal support for Palestine in international platforms. Noting that the Palestine issue will be one of the main agenda items at the NATO meeting to be held in Istanbul, Cobanoglu said Turkiye is also in coordination with European countries on the Palestine issue.
The meeting also addressed Israel's withholding of customs revenues it collects under the 1994 Paris Economic Protocol, which it is supposed to transfer to the Palestinian Authority each month. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa announced on June 23 that Israel is holding approximately $11 billion in Palestinian funds, of which $6 billion are clearance revenues and $5 billion are frozen bank funds.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of escalating attacks in the West Bank. The Palestinian Prisoners Club announced that Israel detained 20 Palestinians in a single night, including five women and a journalist. The Palestinian Presidency warned that settler groups, with the support of the Israeli government, have plans to seize 100 points across the West Bank, describing this as a violation of international law and an undermining of peace.
According to official data, since the start of Israel's attacks in Gaza on October 8, 2023, a total of 1,173 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, 12,666 people have been injured, 24,000 people have been detained, and 33,000 people have been displaced.
