Palestine (Washington Insider Magazine) —Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has vowed to travel to the besieged Gaza Strip, expressing his commitment to stand by the Palestinian people, even at the risk of his own life. Speaking to Turkey’s Grand National Assembly, Abbas condemned the international community’s silence amid escalating violence, as the death toll from the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza surpassed 40,000.
“I have decided to head to the Gaza Strip along with all the brothers from the Palestinian leadership,”
Abbas stated. He emphasized his dedication to halting what he termed “barbaric aggression,” declaring,
“Our life is not more valuable than that of the smallest child in Gaza.”
While details about the timing and logistics of his journey remain uncertain, the situation in Gaza is dire, compounded by a suffocating Israeli blockade. The Rafah crossing, the primary entry point between Egypt and Gaza, has been under Israeli control for months.
“It’s either victory or martyrdom,”
the 88-year-old leader remarked, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Abbas’s remarks come amidst ongoing tensions between his Fatah movement and Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza since 2005. Despite his criticisms of Hamas, there are continuous efforts to foster Palestinian unity, as evidenced by recent reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas representatives in Beijing.
Following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July, Abbas denounced the killing as a “cowardly act” and called for patience and unity among Palestinians.
“Gaza is an integral part of the unified Palestinian state. There will be no state in Gaza alone. The Palestinian people will not be broken and will never surrender,” Abbas asserted, pledging to rebuild Gaza and heal its wounds with the support of Arab and Islamic nations.
He expressed gratitude towards Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his “principled and courageous support” for the Palestinian cause. Abbas also demanded accountability for Israeli actions in Gaza, where military operations have resulted in widespread displacement and devastation.
“The murderers and war criminals will not escape punishment, and we will continue our struggle and fight to achieve justice in Palestine,”
he concluded.
