Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh stated that "the specter of death threatens thousands of children and patients in hospitals, which are nearing fuel depletion, amid the ongoing cut-off of electricity, water, medicine, and food for our people in the Gaza Strip, for the seventeenth day, in light of the massacres they are facing at the hands of the Israeli killing and criminal machine." During his chairing of a cabinet meeting, Shtayyeh emphasized that "this is a genocide being carried out by a criminal machine with a barbaric colonial mentality, that lusts for killing and delights in the suffering of innocents and children, targeting mosques and churches."
He pointed out that "the crimes of the occupation are being committed throughout Palestine, in Gaza, Tulkarem, Jalazon, Jenin, Qabatiya, Nablus, and elsewhere," stressing that "the Cabinet affirms that the priority now is to stop the war and aggression, allow humanitarian materials into Gaza, protect civilians, and halt forced displacement, which is an international responsibility."
He considered that "what is happening in Gaza requires action from those with a conscience and human rights advocates to stop the killing and forced displacement, and to restore the lifelines for our besieged people suffering from the rain of death, which can only be described as crimes against humanity, genocide, and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and Geneva conventions."
He also confirmed that "the preparations being mentioned by the leaders of the occupying state for a ground invasion mean the continuation of committing new crimes and atrocities, forced displacement, and killing for the sake of killing and revenge."
Shtayyeh announced, "We are in touch with our Egyptian brothers to bring in humanitarian materials through the Rafah crossing, and the Palestinian president is making all communications with the countries and leaders of the world to stop the aggression against our people," stressing that "our people will defeat the tendencies of arrogance and crime, and the expansionist dreams that shape the ideology and thought of Israeli leaders, who practice ethnic cleansing and genocide."
He asserted that "our quest for freedom and independence and the establishment of our state will not stop, and our steadfastness on our land will not be shaken by the crimes of settlers," calling for "allowing international press access to Gaza, to document and expose the crimes of the occupation being committed there."
