Palestinian envoy asserts Gaza is 'not a piece of land waiting to be grabbed'

2026-02-03 - 18:45

In a clear statement of principle at the United Nations, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour firmly rejected any notion of Gaza's dispossession, asserting its integral place within the Palestinian homeland. Addressing the UN Committee on Palestinian Rights on Tuesday, Mansour stated, "Gaza is not a piece of land that is hanging in the air for anyone to grab. It belongs to its people. It belongs to the Palestinian people." His remarks served as a direct rebuttal to any plans for permanent Israeli control or territorial redesign in the aftermath of the war, setting a foundational claim for all political discussions. From ceasefire to complete Israeli withdrawal While acknowledging the current Gaza ceasefire and the cooperation of involved parties, including the United States, Ambassador Mansour stressed that the truce must be durable and lead to tangible outcomes. "We want to see the beginning of the withdrawal of the Israeli forces to be out completely of the Gaza Strip," he declared, welcoming the transition into the second phase of the October ceasefire agreement. He warned that the calm "must not be fragile" and insisted Israel must not continue to "kill our people as they wish." His demands outline the Palestinian vision for