Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki sent out a New Year's message, emphasizing the need for an urgent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli occupation has been committing an ongoing aggression for close to three months.

This appeal was conveyed through a post on the official social media account of the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on a specific platform on a Sunday.

Happy New Year! But is it, really?

Every country has its traditions for the #NewYear. Let's compare these traditions with how #Gazans are spending New Year's Eve amid the massacres that "Israel" is committing in the Strip.

As the world celebrates New Year's, people spend the… pic.twitter.com/9pLLz5RDKR

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 31, 2023

In the opening remarks of his message, al-Malki extended greetings for the New Year and acknowledged the "59th anniversary of the commencement of the Palestinian revolution."

Malki expressed concern regarding the situation in Palestine, stating, "...our people continue to suffer as a result of the relentless onslaught by the Israeli war machine, perpetuating a war marked by genocide, widespread destruction, and forced displacement."

Minister Dr. Riad Malki : We welcome the New Year and the 59th anniversary of the start of the #Palestinian_revolution, yet the wounds of our people are bleeding due to #Israeli war machine's persistence in the war of #genocide, destruction, and #displacement, where killings,… pic.twitter.com/Cm7YNDnREA

— State of Palestine - MFA 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@pmofa) December 31, 2023

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The Palestinian Foreign Minister further added that, "...killings, destruction, displacement, #starvation, the spread of epidemics, invasions, arrests, and torture, all of which are crimes of #ethnic_cleansing, [are] dominating the daily lives of Palestinian citizens."

"We reaffirm our demand at the beginning of this year for an immediate ceasefire," the top diplomat asserted.

In his closing remarks, al-Malki expressed optimism for the upcoming year, expressing a desire for it to become the year when the Palestinian people achieve their just and rightful national rights, including the right to return, self-determination, and the establishment of a Palestinian state, specifically emphasizing East al-Quds as the capital of this envisioned state.

His appeal coincided with the initiation of a worldwide campaign aimed at transforming the customary New Year's countdown across the globe into a countdown advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

With the escalating death toll in the coastal region resulting from unrelenting Israeli attacks, Countdown2Ceasefire has urged for synchronized global countdown events spanning from Southeast Asia to Latin America. These events are intended to show solidarity and call for an urgent, lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

🎆 Over 1,000 people in Cardiff have welcomed in the New Year by joining a countdown for a ceasefire in Gaza.

🇵🇸 In an unprecedented event, people chanted for a free Palestine as 2024 began.

🌍 Similar rallies have been held across the world, including in Ramallah. pic.twitter.com/yfUyOGp47H

— voice.wales (@voice_wales) January 1, 2024

‼️🇵🇸BREAKING: Pro-Palestine protestors in Los Angeles disrupt the New Years Eve countdown event demanding CEASEFIRE NOW!

❌No celebration until liberation! #ShutItDown4Palestine #Gaza #LondonNYE #Palestine #Yemen #فلسطين #فلسطين_الان #عام_2024 pic.twitter.com/JO2bWdXWvR

— Gul Sher Khan (@Gulsher2000) January 1, 2024

The Israeli occupation initiated a genocidal war on Gaza on October 7. The ongoing aggression has tragically resulted in the deaths of nearly 22,000 people, a significant majority of whom are women and children.