LONDON: During a meeting with British doctors in London on Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised UK authorities for their plan to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly this month.
Several British medical professionals have worked in Palestinian hospitals during the nearly two years of ongoing Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip, which senior EU officials recently described as genocidal acts.
Abbas said the Palestinian government will present the British doctors and medical volunteers who worked in Gaza with medals in appreciation of their dedication to serving humanity, the Wafa news agency reported.
The president arrived in Britain on Sunday evening for a three-day state visit to the UK, during which he will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the newly appointed foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, to discuss efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
On Monday, he said the Palestinian Authority was prepared to take on its responsibilities in postwar Gaza and provide essential services during recovery and reconstruction in the territory.
The UK government previously announced its intention to officially recognize Palestine as a state during the UN gathering this month, unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and to engage in discussions over a two-state solution to the wider conflict with the Palestinians.
Abbas will also discuss with Starmer “efforts for the upcoming international conference on the two-state solution … as well as the anticipated British recognition of the State of Palestine,” Wafa reported.
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