RAMALLAH — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met here on Monday with the visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israel and Palestinian Affairs, Hady Amr.

During the meeting, President Abbas briefed the US envoy on the grave situation in Jerusalem, with a focus on police and settler assaults and forced expulsions, settler mob violence and the ongoing aggression on Gaza, which killed 200 people, wounded some 1300 others and displaced thousands of others, while holding the Israeli government responsible for it, Wafa, the Palestinian news agency reported.

The Palestinian president stressed the need for the US administration to intervene to halt the Israeli aggression and escalation everywhere and initiate efforts aimed at reaching a political solution based on the United Nations resolutions and international law while reiterating that ending the military occupation of the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, is a prerequisite for regional security and stability.

Abbas expressed the Palestinian side’s willingness to engage with the Quartet in order to achieve just and comprehensive peace that guarantees the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights to freedom and independence as enshrined in international law.

He expressed his gratitude for US President Joe Biden’s administration for renewing US aid to the Palestinian people, and through the United Agency responsible for the refugees, UNRWA.

The US envoy, Amr, emphasized the need to ‘de-escalate’ the situation and pointed that Biden’s administration was making concerted efforts with all other parties to this end.

He reiterated the US administration’s positions committed to bringing about peace and providing equitable opportunities for Palestinians and Israelis alike to live in dignity, security, and prosperity while noting the importance of action towards the two-state solution. — Agencies