Palestinian president and US president-elect discuss peace

On Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump by telephone, congratulating him on his election victory, according to a statement from Abbas’s office cited by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

During the call, Abbas expressed his willingness to work with the incoming Trump administration to pursue a “just and comprehensive peace” between Israelis and Palestinians, based on international law and relevant UN resolutions.

Trump reportedly told Abbas that he is committed to working with him and other regional partners to promote peace and resolve the ongoing conflict.

The call comes amidst heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

Since October of last year, Israel has engaged in military operations in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties, mostly Palestinian civilians, and widespread damage to infrastructure.

The United Nations and other international bodies have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire. The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an end to the violence.

However, mediation efforts led by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to broker a truce and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that governs Gaza, have so far been unsuccessful.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism from the international community for refusing to halt military operations in Gaza despite the high civilian death toll. Palestinian officials have accused Israel of committing war crimes and pursuing a policy of collective punishment against the population of Gaza.

The International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary examination into the situation in Gaza to determine whether a full investigation into alleged war crimes by both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups is warranted.

The renewed violence has dimmed hopes for a resumption of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, which have been stalled for several years.

However, the telephone call between Abbas and Trump may signal a willingness by both sides to re-engage in diplomacy under the auspices of the new US administration.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​