President: What the people of Gaza are suffering from siege and starvation is a crime that cannot be ignored

SadaNews - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that what our people in the Gaza Strip are suffering from siege, starvation, and deprivation of the most basic elements of life is a crime that cannot be ignored.

He added in a televised speech addressed to the people of Gaza, broadcasted by Palestine TV, this Thursday evening, that the Palestinian people are facing the greatest humanitarian catastrophe of our time, amidst international efforts that have failed to deter the occupiers, asking: How can the world abandon its humanity?

He continued: What our people in Gaza are enduring in terms of starvation and killing in front of aid centers is a stain on the conscience of the international community if it does not act immediately to stop this genocide, stressing that the continuation of this situation constitutes a war crime for which the occupation bears full responsibility.

He called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, for the immediate entry of food and medical supplies, and for the release of the tax funds held by the Israeli government.

The President called on the US President to intervene to allow UN organizations to deliver food and medical aid, urging the international community to find immediate means to bring in hundreds of thousands of tons of humanitarian aid available around the Gaza Strip.

He reiterated his rejection of all forms of displacement, demanding the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces and enabling the State of Palestine to fully assume its responsibilities and assist our people in Gaza to return to their homes, to maintain security, enforce the rule of law, and proceed with the reconstruction process, with Arab and international assistance.

The President confirmed that attempts to impose Israeli sovereignty over settlement areas in the West Bank represent a serious escalation and a violation of our people's rights to an independent and sovereign state, calling on the international community to reject these violations and recognize the State of Palestine.

He called on the Palestinian people to unite and show solidarity, to continue their patience, steadfastness, and unity under the banner of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to thwart all attempts at displacement and liquidation, asserting that the independent and sovereign State of Palestine will be realized on the land of Palestine, thanks to our unity, steadfastness, and adherence to our legitimate rights.

The President saluted our people in the Gaza Strip and in every inch of our homeland, stating: "Your patience and steadfastness is an honor for all of us, and will remain a source of our strength and our will."

Here is the text of the President's speech:

O steadfast and patient Palestinian people,

I address you today with a heart aching for what our people in Gaza are suffering from siege, starvation, and deprivation of the most basic elements of life. What is happening in Gaza is a crime that cannot be ignored, a crime committed by the Israeli occupation government against an unarmed people seeking freedom, dignity, and independence.

What is happening in the West Bank and East Jerusalem against our people by terrorist settlers and the occupation forces in refugee camps, villages, and cities involves crimes of killing, demolition, displacement, settlement, attempts at annexation, and assaults on Islamic and Christian holy sites. These are war crimes and violations against international law that necessitate international intervention to deter and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The attempts to impose laws and government decisions characterized as racist, under the guise of imposing Israeli sovereignty over settlement areas in the West Bank, represent a serious escalation and undermining of the rights of the Palestinian people in their independent and sovereign state. We call on the international community to reject these violations and to recognize the State of Palestine, according to international legitimacy decisions.

I say to you, O our people in the Gaza Strip and in every inch of our beloved homeland, sincerely: I feel your suffering and ache for every moment of pain you experience, and I affirm that your patience and steadfastness is an honor for all of us, and will remain a source of our strength and our will.

Sisters and brothers,

We have launched an extensive campaign of communications with world leaders and international organizations, informing them that the continuation of this situation constitutes a war crime for which the Israeli occupation bears full responsibility, and that we will not submit to policies of strangulation and starvation.

What the children, women, and elderly in Gaza are enduring in terms of starvation and killing in front of aid centers represents a stain on the conscience of the international community if it does not act immediately to stop this genocide.

We demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate entry of food and medical supplies to save lives, and we demand the release of the Palestinian tax funds held by the Israeli government, which exceed two billion dollars, so that we can fulfill our obligations towards our people and preserve their dignity.

O our proud people,

We are experiencing a moment of tremendous difficulty that history will record, against an occupation committing disgraceful and catastrophic war crimes, causing the starvation of more than two million Palestinians at risk of death. Can the world bear this responsibility? Is their crime that they are Palestinians who want to remain on their land?

I beseech You, O Allah, to aid the people of Palestine everywhere. I beseech You, O Allah, to protect the people of Palestine who are facing the greatest humanitarian catastrophe of our time, amidst international efforts that have failed to deter the occupiers, unable even to deliver milk for infants in Gaza, and unable to respond to mothers and fathers desperately struggling to save their children from dying of hunger. Is this reasonable? How can the world abandon its humanity?

I call on President Trump to intervene to allow UN organizations to deliver food and medical aid, and I urge the international community to find immediate methods to bring in hundreds of thousands of tons of humanitarian aid available around the Gaza Strip.

I do not exaggerate when I say that every Palestinian family here is ready to walk on foot carrying on their backs baby milk, flour, food, and medical supplies for their brothers in Gaza.

I also call for the complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces and for enabling the State of Palestine to fully assume its responsibilities and assist our people in Gaza to return to their homes, maintain security, enforce the rule of law, and proceed with the reconstruction process, all with appreciated Arab and international assistance. And we reject categorically all forms of displacement from our land.

In these difficult and decisive moments, I call on our people to unite and show solidarity, and I affirm that our Palestinian people will not be broken. I call on them everywhere to continue their patience, steadfastness, and unity under the banner of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to thwart all attempts at displacement and liquidation, and that we affirm that the independent and sovereign State of Palestine will be realized on the land of Palestine, thanks to God first, and then to our unity, steadfastness, and adherence to our legitimate rights.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

"O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may succeed." Allah, the Exalted, has spoken the truth.