Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his hope for peace, security, and stability between Palestinians and Israelis, affirming his welcome of the ceasefire and efforts to achieve calm.

In a rare interview with Israeli Channel 12 conducted at the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah on Thursday, Abbas said, “What happened was a very great day,” according to Monte Carlo International Radio.

He added, “We have hoped, or are hoping now, that the bloodshed in our land, whether in Gaza, the West Bank, or Jerusalem, will stop,” noting that “the stopping of the bloodshed pleases us, and we hope it continues, and that peace, security, and stability prevail between us and Israel.”

Responding to a question about reforming the Palestinian Authority institutions and Israeli demands to stop paying salaries to families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Abbas said, “I frankly say we have put a reform plan, including addressing the prisoners’ salaries file, and we agreed on this matter with the United States, and Washington approved it.”

Abbas explained that reforms include the education, finance, health, and security sectors, confirming that some have already begun implementation while the rest are being completed. He added that the Palestinian Authority “will continue on this reform path to become an exemplary authority, capable of continuing to lead the Palestinian people.”

During his meeting with dozens of representatives of Israeli peace organizations at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, Abbas welcomed “the recently signed agreement, the end of the war, and the release of hostages.”

He added, “A few months ago, former US President Donald Trump had a plan to expel the Palestinians, but he later forgot it. Nevertheless, we will remain in our homeland and establish a Palestinian state in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.”