WEST BANK: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas calls for international force in Gaza while Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi says humanitarian aid is not enough

Record ID: 561995

  • Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas calls for international force in Gaza while Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi says humanitarian aid is not enough
  • Date: 10th July 2007
  • Summary: (W3) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 10, 2007) (REUTERS) PODIUMS WITH ITALIAN AND PALESTINIAN FLAGS IN BACKGROUND ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI AND PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE AND STANDING AT PODIUMS PEOPLE AT NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA7R1GZ58AMADLAO2XED28JJNA3
  • Story Text: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas calls for deployment of an international force in Gaza. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi says humanitarian aid is not enough to help the Palestinians get back on their feet.
    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday (July 10) called for the deployment of an international force in the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and freedom of movement.
    "We affirmed the necessity of deploying international forces in Gaza in order to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, and freedom of movement for the citizens there, and their entry and exit from the Strip, and to stop their awful suffering, evidenced by the problem of those stuck at the Rafah crossing," told reporters at a news conference together with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
    Prodi was on a three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories. He met with Abbas in an effort to strengthen the moderate Palestinian forces and isolate Hamas.
    The Italian PM renewed his country's commitment in the development of a Palestinian state. He also stressed that the recovery of the economy and not humanitarian aid would offer a long-term solution to the population's plight.
    "The biggest challenge is the resumption of development and therefore immediately creating, in a short space of time, investments, a new movement of people, (inaudible) of the difficulty of transit, so that the economy can recover. Without this, humanitarian aid remains something which is endless and which never reaches a solution," said Prodi.
    When asked if there was any contact between Fatah and Hamas, Abbas said there would be none until the situation in Gaza changed.
    "There are no contacts between us and Hamas. Some parties are trying to mediate or to find solutions. Our position is as follows: those who carried out the coup must return everything to the way it was before. Prior to this happening, there will be no dialogue with them."
    Abbas, a member of Fatah, disbanded a Hamas-led government and appointed an emergency government after Hamas's violent takeover of the Gaza Strip on June 14.
    Prodi met the Israeli leadership in Jerusalem on Monday (July 10) where he voiced Italy's backing of the newly formed Palestinian government and joined calls to isolate Hamas.
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