Foreign Minister Riyad Malki met separately in New York on Monday with his Austrian and Portuguese counterparts on the sideline of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly session and discussed with them the latest political developments in the Palestinian scene.

Malki briefed Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl on the situation on the ground in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, which is suffering from 12 years of Israeli blockade, as well as the Israeli attempt to destroy Khan al-Ahmar village east of Jerusalem and displace its Palestinian residents in order to build a Jewish settlement on its ruins.

He also briefed Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva on the situation in Palestine as well on the US measures and policies aimed at ending the Palestinian cause.

He said the Israeli occupation is the biggest obstacle in the way of improving living conditions of Palestinians in the occupied territories.