Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Will Visit Gaza And Jerusalem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a speech at the Turkish Parliament. (Source: Presidency of The Republic of Turkey)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday he had decided to visit the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem to protest against Israel's war there during a speech in the Turkish Parliament, adding he saw no end to the conflict unless Israel withdrew from occupied Palestinian soil.

The President delivered a speech at the extraordinary session of the Turkish Parliamentary assembly at the invitation of the Turkish Government. The 46-minute speech was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ministers and lawmakers from all over the party.

In his speech, President Abbas accused the United States of extending the "disaster" by supporting Israel and vetoing a resolution on the United Nations Security Council.

He also called on the world to punish Israel legally for its war crimes and international law violations.

"I have decided to go to the Gaza Strip with members of the Palestinian Authority (PA). I will make every effort so that we can all be with our people to stop this barbaric aggression even if it sacrifices our lives," President Abbas said, adding he would also go to Jerusalem, but did not mention the visit time.

He received a loud applause before and after his speech, which was also repeatedly interrupted by applause.

Turkey's invitation to President Abbas came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the US Congress in July.

"On July 24, a war criminal delivered a lying speech before the US Congress. Here today, Mahmoud Abbas declared the truth and struggle of Palestine in every sentence," said Turkish Parliament Chief Numan Kurtulmus speaking after President Abbas.

Meanwhile, President Erdogan said Turkey originally planned to invite the Head of the Political Bureau Hamas Ismail Haniyeh, but he was killed in Tehran Iran last month.

It is known that President Abbas heads the PA, which runs a limited self-governing section of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Turkey has denounced Israel's war on Gaza, halting all trade with Israel. Turkey made a request to join the South African case at the International Court accusing Israel of genocide.

Gaza's health authorities confirmed on Thursday that the death toll from the Israeli attack on the Palestinian enclave since October 7, 2023 has reached 40,005, while injuries have reached 92,401. The majority of victims were women and children, quoted from WAFA.