Palestinian PM says West gives Israel 'license to kill' in Gaza

AFP , Monday 23 Oct 2023

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Monday accused Western nations of giving Israel a "license to kill" in its war on Gaza.

Shtayyeh
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. AFP

 

Israel has been bombing Gaza since Hamas gunmen poured across its border with the Palestinian territory on October 7 and, according to Israeli officials, killed more than 1,400 people.

The Palestinian health ministry on Monday said more than 5,000 people, mainly civilians, have been killed in the Israeli bombardment.

"What we hear from the mouth of the occupation (Israeli) leaders on preparations for a land invasion means more crimes, atrocities, and forced displacement," Shtayyeh told the start of a Palestinian Authority government meeting.

"We condemn the statements that constitute a license to kill and give Israel political cover to commit massacres and spread destruction in Gaza," he added.

US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and other leaders have visited Israel in recent days reaffirming its "right to defend" itself while calling on the Israeli government to stay within international humanitarian law.

Biden and the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy reaffirmed the stance in a statement released Sunday after video talks.

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