Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared his unwavering support for the people of Gaza, promising to visit the besieged territory and stand by them in the face of escalating violence.
Speaking before Turkey’s Grand National Assembly on August 15th, Abbas condemned the “silence of the international community” as the Palestinian death toll in the ongoing conflict with Israel surpassed 40,000.
“I have decided to head to the Gaza Strip along with all the brothers from the Palestinian leadership,” Abbas announced, expressing his commitment to standing with the Palestinian people, even at great personal risk.
“I will work with all my power so that all of us are standing with our people to stop this barbaric aggression even if that would cost us our life. Our life is not more valuable than that of the smallest child in Gaza.”
While the timing and logistics of Abbas’s visit to Gaza remain unclear, his remarks come amid an Israeli blockade that has severely restricted movement in and out of the territory.
The Rafah crossing, the primary gateway between Egypt and Gaza, has been under Israeli control for months, adding to the challenges of such a visit.
“It’s either victory or martyrdom,” Abbas, 88, told Turkish lawmakers, signaling his readiness to sacrifice his life for the Palestinian cause.
The Palestinian leader’s address also highlighted ongoing tensions between his Fatah movement and Hamas, the latter having governed Gaza since 2005. Despite these divisions, Abbas has been involved in efforts to foster unity among Palestinians, including recent reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas in Beijing.
He called for patience and solidarity following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July, condemning the killing as a “cowardly act.”
“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, reaffirming his commitment to Palestinian unity.
Abbas also vowed to rebuild Gaza with the support of Arab and Islamic nations and international allies, emphasizing the need for an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his “principled and courageous” support for the Palestinian people.
Calling for accountability, Abbas condemned the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza, which have displaced nearly the entire population and left much of the territory in ruins. “The murderers and war criminals will not escape punishment, and we will continue our struggle and fight to achieve justice in Palestine,” he declared.
