President Mahmoud Abbas marked the 38th anniversary of Palestine's Declaration of Independence by emphasizing that it represents a renewed national and historical milestone in the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom and sovereignty. He stressed that establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is not mere rhetoric but a historical and legal fact recognized by international legitimacy that no power may undermine.
The President recalled that the declaration issued by the late leader Yasser Arafat in 1988 was an expression of free national will and a culmination of decades of sacrifice. He underscored that the declaration affirmed the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and dignified life on their homeland.
He reaffirmed that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people everywhere and serves as the political reference and national project holder, emphasizing that preserving the PLO's unity is essential to safeguarding the independent national decision and advancing towards statehood.
President Abbas highlighted the resilience of the Palestinian people against attempts of uprooting, displacement, and erasing national identity. He affirmed that the sacrifices of martyrs, wounded, and prisoners will not be in vain, calling for protecting the national project and sustaining citizens' steadfastness against all liquidation schemes.
Regarding Gaza, he stressed it is an inseparable part of Palestine and called for a national responsibility to end suffering there and rebuild what occupation aggression destroyed. He urged unification of national institutions in Gaza and the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, under a single political and legal system and legitimate authority to ensure land and people’s unity.
He affirmed that occupied Jerusalem, with its Islamic and Christian holy sites, will remain the eternal capital of the Palestinian state, stressing that peace and stability in the region require ending the occupation and enabling Palestinians to exercise their rights. The strategic choice remains a just peace based on international legitimacy and a two-state solution on 1967 borders.
Abbas called on the international community to assume legal and moral responsibilities to halt the occupation forces’ and settlers’ attacks, stop settlement policies and forced displacement, provide urgent international protection for Palestinians, and hold the occupation accountable for ongoing violations of international law, alongside efforts to obtain full UN membership.
He expressed confidence in the capabilities of Palestinian talents to build a modern democratic state founded on rule of law, justice, and equality, praising the role of youth and women in sustaining society and leading the state-building process.
In conclusion, the President renewed the pledge to continue the national journey as guardians of identity, land, and independent decision until the occupation ends. He prayed for mercy for the righteous martyrs, swift recovery for the wounded, and imminent freedom for the brave prisoners, affirming that the dawn of freedom is inevitable.