Palestinian president: We will not leave our land, or allow another ‘Nakba’ to take place

Cairo – 17 October 2023: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said that Palestine have always warned the world from Israel’s crimes.

“We will not leave our land and will not allow another ‘Nakba’ to take place.” Abbas said, adding: “We will not leave and we will not allow our people to be displaced.”

“In light of this calamity that occurred tonight, and out of concern for our people, I decided to cut short my visit and return to the homeland to be among my people in this great ordeal, and I agreed with the brothers in Jordan and Egypt to cancel the summit that was scheduled in Amman with President Biden.” Abbas said in a televised speech.

Abbas stressed that “the aggression against the Palestinians must stop,” calling on the international community to hold the Israeli government accountable and provide international protection for the Palestinian people.

“We will not allow a new Nakba (catastrophe) in the twenty-first century, and we will not accept the displacement of our people again,” he said. “Our people will remain steadfast in their homeland and will not leave, no matter the sacrifices.”

The President stressed that “we will do everything necessary to stop the bloodbath in Gaza and in the West Bank,” adding: “We will not accept from anyone anything other than stopping this war, and the Security Council must shoulder its responsibilities and take the initiative to issue a resolution to condemn this crime and stop the aggression immediately.”

He called on the Palestinian people to be united saying, "This is a critical and dangerous moment. It can only be faced with unity and steadfastness in the face of the Israeli aggression."

On Tuesday, Israel bombed Gaza Baptist Hospital where thousands of displaced Palestinians took refuge, killing up to 500 people.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning, and ordered that flags be flown at half-mast in mourning for the victims of the Israeli aggression on al-Ahli hospital and for all the people killed.

Palestinian Minister of Health said that the bombing of Gaza Baptist Hospital is a ‘genocide’.

 ‘We appeal to the international community to protect the Palestinian people’ the minster said.

She added that the health sector in Gaza is on the verge of collapse, noting that services are running out and Israel has been deliberately targeting hospitals.