Palestinian FM visits Vilnius, discusses Gaza crisis with Lithuanian counterpart

VILNIUS - Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin met with her Lithuanian counterpart, Kestutis Budrys, during her visit to Vilnius on Friday to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and other issues.

"We discussed the security situation in the Middle East, the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the urgent need for a full ceasefire and the immediate return of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas," Budrys wrote on X.

"I reaffirmed Lithuania's support for a two-state solution," he added.

According to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, Budrys urged "all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to return to full implementation of the ceasefire agreement."

"Humanitarian aid must be resumed and delivered without hindrance, and all Israeli hostages held by Hamas must be released immediately," it quoted Budrys as saying in a press release.

The ministers also discussed Lithuanian-Palestinian cooperation in supporting the Palestinian Authority's digital transformation and strengthening its institutional capacity.

Shahin's visit was not announced by Lithuanian authorities and was not included in Budrys' official agenda.

The meeting came as an increasing number of Western countries debate recognizing a Palestinian state and as international criticism grows of Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza, which has triggered a humanitarian crisis.

Budrys has said that Lithuania would consider recognizing Palestine, but only together with a group of like-minded countries and "at the right time."

EU foreign ministers are due to discuss possible new sanctions against Israel and Hamas at a meeting in Copenhagen on Saturday. Sweden and the Netherlands have already called for more action.

Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to destroy Gaza City unless Hamas agreed to disarm, release all remaining hostages in the territory and end the war on Israel's terms.

Hamas' October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to official figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed nearly 63,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza that the United Nations considers reliable.

The United Nations last week declared a famine in Gaza, blaming the "systematic obstruction" of humanitarian deliveries by Israel.

Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza between March and May, accusing Hamas of looting aid supplied by the UN.