By Rafiyat Sadiq
The Palestinian Authority has urged the inclusion of the Gaza Strip in the recently announced ceasefire between Iran and Israel, calling on international stakeholders to ensure that the truce is expanded to end hostilities in the besieged Palestinian territory.
In a statement released on Tuesday by President Mahmoud Abbas’s office and carried by the official Wafa News Agency, the Palestinian leadership welcomed the ceasefire initiative brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump and demanded that it extend to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“The Palestinian Presidency welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement,” the statement read. “We demand the completion of this step by achieving a ceasefire that includes the Gaza Strip.”
The call comes as Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian rocket fire continue in Gaza despite the de-escalation efforts in the broader Iran-Israel confrontation. The Palestinian Authority, headquartered in Ramallah, warned that excluding Gaza from the ceasefire framework would undermine regional peace efforts and prolong the humanitarian crisis facing more than two million residents in the enclave.
Officials in Ramallah emphasized that any viable path toward de-escalation in the region must include Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, where recent fighting has resulted in dozens of casualties and extensive destruction.
President Abbas has also reportedly communicated with regional allies and international mediators, urging them to press for a comprehensive ceasefire that addresses all fronts, not just the Iran-Israel axis.
While the Iran-Israel ceasefire has garnered international attention, particularly from global powers including Russia and Turkey, Palestinian leaders say that the situation in Gaza remains volatile and that any genuine peace initiative must take into account the realities on the ground in the Palestinian territories.
So far, there has been no formal Israeli response to the Palestinian Authority’s call for Gaza to be included in the truce. However, diplomatic sources indicate that discussions are ongoing among U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari officials to explore the possibility of brokering a separate ceasefire in Gaza.
Read Also: Trump Secures Ceasefire In Israel Iran War
The Palestinian Authority’s position reflects growing concerns that the Gaza conflict is being sidelined amid broader regional tensions, despite being one of the longest-running and most explosive flashpoints in the Middle East.
As Ceasefire Demands Rise, Israeli Forces Kill 71 in Gaza — 54 Hit While Waiting for Aid
Israeli air and ground forces killed at least 71 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, striking multiple areas as ceasefire demands grew louder. Officials in Gaza reported that 54 of the victims died while waiting in line at humanitarian aid distribution points.
Mahmud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defence agency, said Israeli troops fired bullets and tank shells directly at civilians gathered for food and supplies.
“Israeli occupation forces targeted gatherings of citizens waiting for aid… with bullets and tank shells,” Basal told Aljazeera.
Emergency responders recovered bodies from several locations while shelling continued in nearby areas. Local authorities described the attack as one of the deadliest incidents since hostilities escalated, as families gathered in desperation near aid trucks and warehouses.
Sources: Wafa News Agency and Aljazeera
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.