Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1540302
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 OCTOBER 2025 INTERVIEW Fadi Hanania: 'This time, we feel the plan is honest' THE Palestinian ambassador to Malta is optimistic about US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza. Fadi Hanania describes it as a potential- ly genuine step toward ending two years of devastation and opening a pathway to Palestinian statehood. Speaking in an interview with Malta- Today following the plan's announce- ment, the ambassador says the Pales- tinian side welcomes any initiative that ends the suffering of Gaza's residents. He says this plan, unlike previous ones, seems legitimate and comes in response to the global will to see Palestinians live freely and with dignity. The ambassador credits the growing international recognition of Palestine as the force behind this diplomatic mo- mentum. "This plan came as a response to that rising wave of recognition and demonstrations around the world," he tells me. The ambassador, who has represent- ed Palestine in Malta since 2019, says Gaza should not be treated merely as a humanitarian crisis, but as a political issue tied to the broader question of oc- cupation. "Gaza should never be treated as a humanitarian file," he insists. "It's a political issue. Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem must all be seen as one." In Gaza, he says reconstruction should begin "with the people", focusing on trauma recovery, health, and education, before rebuilding Gaza's shattered in- frastructure. The ambassador also says the Palestin- ian Authority must eventually resume control in Gaza. "There should only be one weapon in Gaza: the State of Pales- tine's weapon," he says. Hamas, he adds, should step aside and allow elections under PLO standards, calling for "one leadership, one law, one future". Turning to Malta's recent recognition of Palestinian statehood, he reveals that the process was delayed because of le- gal debates rather than politics. "We discovered Malta had never formally recognised Palestine despite having our embassy here since 1988," he explains. "The government wanted to ensure it was done properly." He praised Malta's support but was more cautious when asked about For- eign Minister Ian Borg's recent nomi- nation of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. "It's not the right time for that," he tells me diplomatically. "Maybe next year, after the plan is implemented. Then we might even support it." The ambassador was less restrained when discussing European Parliament President Roberta Metsola's perceived pro-Israel stance, particularly her visit to Israel days after the 7 October attacks. "Taking sides doesn't make sense," he says. "This isn't a football match. It's about humanity, about justice." As to whether Malta should pull out of the Eurovision if Israel is allowed to take part, he says boycotting the contest would serve as a message that Malta cares about the Palestinian cause. Palestinian Ambassador Fadi Hanania believes the momentum created by countries recognising Palestinian statehood, and Donald Trump's new Gaza peace plan, must be turned into tangible change on the ground. He tells Nicole Meilak that the work starts now.