RAMALLAH ( WNAM MONITORING): Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed Wednesday that his country is “not for sale” and his rejection of any calls for the displacement of the Palestinian people.
It came during the opening speech of a meeting of Fatah’s Central Committee in Ramallah in the central West Bank, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa.
Referring to his participation in the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, which concluded Saturday, Abbas stated that he reaffirmed Palestine’s firm stance against any attempts to displace the Palestinian people.
“Palestine is not for sale,” he emphasized, reiterating “the firm Palestinian position that no part of its territory — including Gaza, the West Bank, or Jerusalem — would be relinquished.
Abbas stressed “the importance of adhering to international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative as the basis for any political resolution of the Palestinian cause.”
Adopted at the 2002 Arab League Summit in Beirut, the Arab Peace Initiative calls for the establishment of a recognized Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in exchange for Arab states recognizing Israel and normalizing relations.
Abbas welcomed statements by United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed, made Wednesday during his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which he reaffirmed his country’s firm rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people and stressed that Gaza’s reconstruction must be linked to a path leading to comprehensive peace.
Fatah’s Central Committee also rejected all calls for the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip or any part of occupied Palestinian land.
It stressed that “such plans are destined to fail, given the clear opposition from Arab and international parties, which have deemed them violations of international law and legitimacy.”
The committee praised the positions of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, which have rejected attempts to displace Palestinians or undermine their legitimate rights.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested he would “take over” Gaza and resettle its population to redevelop the enclave into what he called “the Riviera of the Middle East.” The idea has been vehemently rejected by the Arab world and other nations, who said it amounts to ethnic cleansing.
A ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement in Gaza took effect Jan. 19, suspending Israel’s genocidal war that has killed nearly 48,300 Palestinians and left the enclave in ruins.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
