The parliaments of Mozambique and Palestine intend to intensify cooperation relations, with a view to exchanging ideas that will help the development of both nations. This interest was demonstrated during a meeting between the President of the Assembly of the Republic (AR), Margarida Talapa, and the Palestinian Ambassador accredited to the country, Fayez Jawad.
Talapa guaranteed that national MPs would continue to defend the independence and self-determination of the Palestinians in international forums where the Mozambican parliament is a full member.
‘We also expressed the Assembly of the Republic’s interest in strengthening relations of cooperation between the two states, particularly in the parliamentary sphere,’ she added, quoted by the Mozambican Information Agency.
The meeting also aimed to send a letter from the president of the Palestinian National Council (PNC), Aziz Dweik, to Margarida Talapa to congratulate her on her election to the post of president of the HR.
The State of Palestine is currently involved in an armed conflict with Israel, which began in October 2023 in the Gaza Strip and which, according to the United Nations, has claimed more than 45,000 lives. A ceasefire was announced in mid-January with the aim of creating a humanitarian aid corridor in the region.
The causes of the war include territorial disputes, the mutual non-acceptance of the legitimacy of both states (Palestine and Israel), the blockade of Gaza and religious and geopolitical tensions, with Iran’s support for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel’s alliance with the US.
However, according to the president of the HR, Mozambique is still sensitive to the war in Palestine, especially with the worsening humanitarian situation, and has been raising support for the Palestinians.
‘We are raising money, food, hygiene products, clothes and other important items. A similar action also took place in 2023,’ he said, emphasising that the support comes from various people and organisations.
Talapa therefore called for ‘an immediate end to the atrocities committed against innocent people, reiterating that Mozambique is available to make its contribution as a way of guaranteeing the resolution of the conflict.’
For his part, the Palestinian diplomat said that the meeting was fruitful, as there was mutual interest in further cementing relations of cooperation and friendship between the two parliaments.
Jawad confirmed Mozambique’s support for the ongoing peace process in the Gaza Strip. ‘We exchanged views on strengthening our co-operation, which the country has already shown to the Palestinian people, at a time when our people are facing harmful wars.’
