Tunisian President Kais Saied has reaffirmed his country’s steadfast support for the Palestinian cause and the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

During a meeting in Tunis on Tuesday with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Saied emphasized that the Palestinian people’s rights are grounded not only in international law but also in deep moral and spiritual values, according to a statement from the Tunisian Presidency.

Saied strongly condemned what he described as Israeli efforts to “destroy” the Palestinian people and their aspirations for independence. Despite such challenges, he praised the Palestinian people’s continued determination to defend their land and freedom, Xinhua news agency reported.

The meeting also addressed broader Arab cooperation to boost the region’s role on the world stage amid what Saied called “rapid and unprecedented” global shifts. He underlined the need for the Arab world to adopt a stronger voice in shaping the evolving international order.

Aboul Gheit expressed support for Saied’s stance and confirmed his attendance at the upcoming Arab League summit set to take place in Baghdad this May.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. Netanyahu warned that such a state would pose a security risk and serve as a base for Iranian-backed terrorism, stating that the “overwhelming majority of the Israeli public strongly opposes” the idea.