Istanbul: Rawhi Fattouh, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) National Council, expressed his gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus for hosting a recent international meeting aimed at bolstering support for Palestine. The Group of Parliaments in Support of Palestine meeting, led by Trkiye's parliament speaker and held in Istanbul last week, brought together parliament speakers from 13 countries. Fattouh described the event as a 'promising initiative' and said there were plans to expand its reach in the future.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fattouh, while speaking at the event, emphasized the meeting's role in demonstrating a firm stance in support of the Palestinian people's determination. He called on the international community to intensify pressure on Israel and advocate for a two-state solution. He stressed that Palestinians will not leave their homeland and asserted that their continued resistance will ultimately compel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war.
Fattouh condemned the ongoing Israeli military offensives in Gaza, calling them a 'massacre,' and criticized the international community for a failure to act or pressure Israel to end the aggression against Palestinians.
Fattouh highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, stating that more than 40% of the population in eastern Gaza is currently living in tents, with over 80% of homes rendered uninhabitable. He reported widespread destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals, mosques, and universities, noting that Gaza is now buried under more than 50 million tons of rubble. More than 15,000 people remain missing under the debris.
He warned of the acute crisis of hunger and thirst, pointing out a food blockade and a lack of clean water, as well as a severe shortage of medicine. He also mentioned that there are insufficient hospitals to treat the wounded and that over 5,000 children require prosthetic limbs.
Fattouh criticized Netanyahu for escalating violence, asserting that he is backed by the US and is carrying out attacks across multiple regions, including Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, without any effective opposition. He praised the Palestinian people's resilience, saying their determination would prevent displacement from their homeland and eventually bring the conflict to an end. He thanked Egypt and Jordan for their opposition to displacement plans and commended Trkiye's firm stance in support of the Palestinian cause, extending his gratitude to President Erdogan.
Despite Israeli and US actions, Fattouh asserted that Palestinians will not be displaced and remain determined to resist on their land. He condemned the increasing violence by illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank, calling it unacceptable and part of a larger plan to eradicate Palestinians. The Israeli government is targeting refugee camps as part of its plan to erase Palestinian refugees' identities, he added. He also criticized the Israeli government for impeding the Palestinian National Authority (PLO) government's ability to operate by withholding taxes.
He welcomed the European Union's approval of budgetary support for the PLO and stressed the continued need for international financial assistance for the Palestinian people and the government. Fattouh praised Ankara's support for Palestine, highlighting President Erdogan's leadership in aiding Palestinians, treating the wounded, and helping Palestinian students in Trkiye. He emphasized that Trkiye has carried a larger burden than many other countries in the region and praised Trkiye's role in securing the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Highlighting the strong relationship between President Erdogan and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas, Fattouh expressed gratitude for Trkiye's crucial support, stating that Palestinians are proud and thankful for Ankara's actions under Erdogan's leadership. He stressed that victory over Israel can only be achieved through national unity and called for solidarity under the PLO, emphasizing the importance of preserving the gains made in the conflict without isolating any party.