The Prime Minister repeated this Monday his call for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that the Portuguese government recognizes Israel’s right to defense, but adding that “the destruction of Hamas does not mean the destruction of Palestine.”
During the preparatory parliamentary debates for the European Council meeting this Thursday and Friday, António Costa reaffirmed his “full support” for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip and “the start of negotiations that will realize what is needed for a lasting and just peace in the region” .
According to the prime minister, this peace should be “based on the creation of two states with an effective Palestinian authority” and “with the proper destruction of Hamas.”
Costa said the government had taken “such a clear stance of condemnation” of violence that occurs “in an indiscriminate manner and that brutally affects the population and civilian equipment in the Gaza Strip,” as it did in the face of the “terrorist attack.” from Hamas.”
“We recognize Israel’s right not only to defend, but also to destroy Hamas. “Destroying Hamas does not mean destroying Palestine and does not mean confusing Hamas agents with Palestinian agents,” he said.
That is why, António Costa continued, his leader “supported all the efforts of the United Nations” and its Secretary-General António Guterres.
The Prime Minister said that “respect for human rights is just as necessary when they are violated in Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, when they are violated in Portugal or anywhere else in the world.”
Costa took this position in response to several questions from the left-bench. PKP parliamentary leader Paula Santos criticized the “complicit veto of the United States of America” on the UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“What steps will you take to achieve an immediate ceasefire and respect the two-state solution so that the European Union and Portugal recognize the State of Palestine?” he asked.
BE MP Isabel Pires also addressed the “increasingly precarious and impossible situation” in the Gaza Strip, deeming the area to be a “death camp” where 18,000 civilians, “most of them children and women,” have died.
The blocker asked the Portuguese government to continue diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire and called on the PS and the executive branch to recognize the State of Palestine, believing that this would be a “necessary step towards peace.”
In the same sense, Livre’s only deputy, Rui Tavares, stated that if after the next legislative elections there is a left-wing majority, his party will demand recognition of Palestinian independence.
PAN’s sole deputy, Ines de Souza Real, asked whether the government would propose “an international investigative mechanism or the creation of a special criminal court” that would analyze what is happening in the Gaza Strip and guarantee “accountability for serious human rights violations.” rights” that happened.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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