Khaberni - Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Agabkian Shahin said on Tuesday that the adoption by the UN Security Council of a resolution supporting US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza is a necessary first step on a long road to peace.
The Security Council adopted on Monday a resolution drafted by the United States that also allows for the deployment of a multinational security force in Gaza and imposes an international mandate over the war-ravaged sector, which lasted two years.
The minister continued to tell reporters in Manila during her visit to the Philippines, "The UN resolution is the first step on a long road to peace. This step was necessary because we were unable to start anything else before we had a ceasefire."
She mentioned that there are still other issues to be addressed, including the right of the Palestinians to self-determination and ultimate Palestinian independence, and that the implementation of Trump's plan must be governed by international law.
The Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah, earlier welcomed the vote and said it was ready to participate in Trump's plan, which does not specify a clear role for it and vaguely refers to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
European and Arab countries say that the Palestinian Authority should govern Gaza and that there should be a clear path to Palestinian independence.
The Israeli government, which opposes the idea of an independent Palestinian state, rejects any participation of the Palestinian Authority in governing Gaza.
