RAMALLAH, Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh today expressed his government’s support for human rights and civil organizations closed by the Israeli occupation forces this morning, stressing that they are a major component of the Palestinian national fabric.

Shtayyeh made these remarks during a visit to the main office of al-Haq human rights organization, one of the seven institutions closed by the occupation forces in the cities of Ramallah and Al-Bireh.

“This institution and all the others are registered with the State of Palestine, and therefore are legal institutions that operate within the law,” he said, calling on the organizations to resume their work despite their closure by the Israeli occupation authorities.

He stressed that his government’s work is not only limited to licensing these institutions but rather to defending them “because they are the voice of truth.”

Shtayyeh said his government will continue to support these institutions and will recruit funds for them, stressing that nine European countries have confirmed that there is no evidence to condemn them as Israel claims.

He stressed that Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz does not have the right to legalize the presence and functioning of Palestinian institutions in any way.

The Prime Minister said that the occupiers want to use the incursions into the Palestinian cities and the killings for their elections campaigns, stressing that he will address the international community to ensure support for these institutions.

Source: Palestine News & Info Agency