Abbas lands in Jenin, praises sacrifices, steadfastness against IOF

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
12 Jul 2023 16:00
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The Palestinian president says that the Jenin refugee camp will be reconstructed after the devastation it witnessed due to the Israeli aggression.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas making prayers for the fallen martyrs in Jenin during his visit to the city's Martyrs cemetry on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 (social media)

On board of a helicopter, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived on Wednesday to Jenin, marking his first visit since 2011 to the city that recently repelled an Israeli aggression campaign.

Abbas directly made his way after his arrival to Jenin's refugee camp, where he stopped at the martyrs' cemetery before heading to the camp's center square.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine reported that the president's helicopter landed at the National Security headquarters in Jenin camp.

"President Abbas's visit to Jenin is one of the rare visits to West Bank regions, due to security conditions, and it is the first since 2011," the correspondent said.

عاجل| الرئيس محمود عباس يصل إلى مدينة جنين. pic.twitter.com/JaCumsgwOx
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) July 12, 2023

Upon his arrival, an Israeli occupation military convoy was approaching the city, but the president's security detail blocked its way and forced it to withdraw.

During a speech he gave at the city's center, Abbas told the gathered crowds that "The resolute Jenin is the symbol of struggle and steadfastness throughout the world."

"Jenin Camp stood resolute against the aggression, presenting sacrifices for the nation," he continued.

Abbas praised the sacrifices made by the residents of the Jenin refugee camp, and described them as "heroes who stood firm in the face of the occupation," and who "offered sacrifices, prisoners and wounded, and everything they had for the sake of the homeland."

He confirmed that the Palestinians will not forget occupied Al-Quds, the capital of the State of Palestine, and declared his rejection to proposals of making Abu Dis the capital of Palestine.

"We will build an independent Palestinian State, whose capital, I repeat, will be Al-Quds, not Abu Dis."

The Israeli occupation aggression on the refugee camp earlier this month, dubbed "Operation Home and Garden" by the occupation, has caused massive destruction to the already impoverished area.

The Israeli attack on the besieged camp destroyed tens of family homes, drinking water infrastructures and sewer systems. Thousands of Palestinian families were either forcefully evacuated by the IOF during the aggression, or were displaced after their houses and streets were bombed by the occupation military.

President Abbas said his visit came today "to pursue the reconstruction of the city of Jenin and its camp, and challenge all who would seek to defeat us and aggress against us."

"Our first goal is to immediately reconstruct Jenin to be better than it was, and we thank Algeria, the country of a million martyrs, and the Emirates, for the aid they provided."

"The Palestinians will remain steadfast, patient, and will not leave," he added, announcing that "the entire Palestinian nation" stands with Jenin, whether at Palestinians at home or abroad, "until victory is achieved."

He pointed out that "the Palestinian Authority is one authority, one law, and one security," and that the authority "will remain united, and anyone seeking to disrupt this unity will regret it."

"The hand that will extend to the unity, security and stability of the Palestinian people will be cut off from its roots."