Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh Receives the Consul General of the Kingdom of Belgium to the State of Palestine and Discusses the Latest Political and Field Developments in the West Bank and Gaza

Ramallah—October 1, 2026—His Excellency Hussein Al Sheikh, Vice President of the State of Palestine, received today, Thursday, the Consul General of the Kingdom of Belgium to the State of Palestine, H.E. Ambassador Anick Van Calster, and Deputy Consul General Ms. Nadia Benini, to discuss the latest political and field developments, as well as some issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, Al Sheikh reviewed the difficult political, security, and economic conditions in the West Bank and Jerusalem, amidst ongoing settler attacks, settlement expansion, and Israeli measures targeting citizens and their property, in addition to the continued withholding of Palestinian funds and the resulting severe economic and livelihood repercussions on our people and the Palestinian government’s ability to meet its obligations.

The two sides also discussed ongoing preparations for the Palestinian elections. Al Sheikh emphasized the importance of holding elections within established legal and constitutional frameworks to ensure integrity and transparency, and to strengthen Palestinian democratic life as well as the unity of the political system and national institutions. In this context, Al Sheikh expressed appreciation for the Kingdom of Belgium’s supportive stance toward the Palestinian people, stressing the importance of continued cooperation and coordination, and of supporting efforts to protect the Palestinian people, bolster their resilience, and empower their national institutions.

The meeting also addressed the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and the resulting catastrophic humanitarian situation. Al Sheikh emphasized the need to intensify international efforts to halt the war, alleviate the suffering of our people in Gaza, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, and initiate recovery and reconstruction efforts—all while preserving the unity of the Palestinian land, people, and political system.

For her part, H.E. the Belgian Consul General reaffirmed her country's continued support for the Palestinian people, as well as its commitment to ongoing cooperation with Palestinian institutions and the strengthening of bilateral relations across various fields.