Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump and expressed his desire to work together to achieve peace, Anadolu Agency reported. Abbas congratulated Trump on his recent election victory by phone and said he was ready to work towards achieving a "just and comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy," Palestinian state news agency Wafa said.

 Trump's response is understood to have pledged to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza and to work with Abbas and other concerned parties to promote peace in the region.

 It should be noted that Israel has been conducting military operations in Gaza since October last year, which continues despite the UN Security Council's call for an immediate ceasefire. According to local health agencies, more than 43,500 people, mostly women and children, have been killed and more than 102,700 injured so far. Efforts to broker a cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal in Gaza, brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, have failed due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reluctance to end the war. Israel is being sued for genocide in the International Court of Justice for the conflict in Gaza.

 Source: Middle East Monitor