President Ilham Aliyev Reaffirms Support for Independent Palestinian State

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Baku on July 16, 2026, to reaffirm his country's support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital. During meetings at Zagulba Palace, the leaders emphasized a commitment to a two-state solution based on international law and UN Security Council resolutions.

Prime Minister Mustafa briefed President Aliyev and Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov on political developments in Palestine, specifically highlighting settlement expansion in the West Bank and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The discussions focused on strengthening fraternal relations and expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

Mustafa expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan's humanitarian assistance, including support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees of Near East and the decision to build a secondary school in Palestine. Other mentioned ties include Azerbaijan covering the operational expenses of the Palestinian Embassy in Baku, the opening of an Azerbaijani Representative Office in Ramallah, and the provision of educational grants for 37 Palestinian students. The leaders also discussed the export of Palestinian agricultural products to Azerbaijan under preferential terms and recalled a $5 million financial aid package provided by Azerbaijan in 2013.