Palestinian news agency WAFA has reported that Emmanual Macron called Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

During the phone call, Abbas “emphasized that the current escalation in the region is a result of the political impasse,” the news agency said.

WAFA also reported that Abbas pointed to the “denial of the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, their land, and their sacred sites, and the continued terrorism of Israeli settlers.”

The news agency added: “The President stated that ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land with East Jerusalem as its capital, recognizing the Palestinian people’s right to independence and sovereignty, and granting full UN membership would ensure security, stability, and peace in the region”

Abbas then asked Macron to “urgently intervene to halt the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people by Israeli occupation forces and extremist settler groups,” WAFA said.