The statement was made during the conclusion of the Council’s meeting in the city of Al-Bireh, where members discussed the growing risks to Palestinian rights and land posed by recent statements made by United States President Donald Trump on the potential displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
The Palestinian Central Council denounced these remarks as a grave violation of international law and a direct attack on the Palestinian right to self-determination in their homeland. They also expressed their refusal of attempts by certain U.S. lawmakers to change the name of the West Bank or legalize Israeli settlement expansion.
The Council emphasized its rejection of the U.S. role in disregarding international law and United Nations resolutions, urging Arab nations to adopt a unified stance in pressing the U.S. administration to reconsider its harmful positions.
Furthermore, the Council condemned Israeli annexation and apartheid policies in the West Bank, supported by the U.S., and reaffirmed the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in their fight against occupation, displacement, and settlement expansion.
The Central Council also made it clear that it would not accept any transitional or temporary solutions that undermine or concede the 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem, and called for global recognition of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations in acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by Palestinians over the decades.
Reaffirming that Palestinian national unity is essential for overcoming the occupation and securing independence, the Council stressed that this unity must occur within the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinian people, based on the political program approved by the Palestinian National Council.
In addition, the Council expressed its gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for their unwavering support of Palestinian rights and their opposition to forced displacement. It also called for an emergency Arab summit to consolidate efforts in support of Palestine and reject displacement.
Also praised the consistent support for international law and Palestinian rights from regional and global political parties, including members of the U.S. Congress, and expressed appreciation for the UN Secretary-General’s defense of international law and human rights.
The Palestinian Central Council reiterated its commitment to justice through international legal bodies, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, rejecting President Trump’s punitive measures against the ICC.
The meeting concluded with a strong affirmation of the Palestinian people’s right to resist the Israeli occupation’s plans, calling this “not merely a choice but an obligation,” and affirming that the focus remains on strengthening and supporting popular resistance as a lawful defense of Palestinian rights.
Finally, the Council issued a message of resilience, insisting that the Palestinian cause would not be silenced or erased. “We are like the phoenix, rising from the ashes to rebuild,» they declared.
«This is our land, soaked with the blood of hundreds of thousands of martyrs. It will only accept the end of occupation, the prosecution of war criminals and the establishment of our independent state on the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.”
The meeting was convened at the invitation of the Chairman of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, and included several national leaders and Council members, as well as a wide participation via Zoom from representatives of the Gaza Strip governorates and the Palestinian diaspora.
