Today, Wednesday, it was announced the launch of the International Alliance of Friends of Palestine, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, under the title: “From the World to Palestine: You are not alone.”
This came during a conference held in the city of Ramallah, via Zoom technology, in the presence of members of the Executive Committees of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement, the Revolutionary Council, the Prisoners’ Committees, a number of ambassadors, diplomats, and representatives of Palestinian and Arab forces and parties.
Deputy Chairman of the Fatah movement, Mahmoud Al-Aloul, said that the importance of the event comes from the necessity of coordinating efforts between all the forces and individuals that stood against the Israeli aggression and won for the rights of our people.
He added that hundreds of thousands came out in the capitals of the world to stand by the Palestinian right, and they had an impact on the policies of injustice, correcting them, deepening the popular movement in the world, and highlighting the reality of the events in Palestine, and their movement left an important impact on our Palestinian people, who realized that they are not alone.
He stressed the necessity of working to close ranks and reject any disagreement and disparity. The priority is to focus on mechanisms to stop aggression and ward off and prevent any thinking that leads to migration.
He stressed the need to release the detainees and move towards consecrating the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
For his part, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Wasel Abu Youssef, said that millions came out all over the world against the aggression, raising the slogan of the freedom of our people.
He explained that the war has strategic goals to displace our people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and has only achieved the killing of children and women, and the destruction of homes, schools and hospitals.
He pointed out that all efforts must be combined to stop the war of genocide against our people in Gaza, and the threats to invade the city of Rafah. It is unacceptable for our people to remain besieged in the Gaza Strip, subjected to killing and starvation.
In turn, the head of the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs Authority, Qaddoura Fares, said that the battle with the occupation will be resolved, because the Palestinian issue is just, and what will help resolve it is strengthening the network of Palestine’s allies and restoring creative initiatives.
He noted that a front has been opened against male and female detainees inside the occupation prisons, as they are subjected to torture and starvation, noting that the occupation targets Palestinian women by killing, arresting, and abusing them.
For her part, member of the Fatah Central Committee, Dalal Salama, said that our people are being subjected to genocide, as lives are being lost en masse. There are more than 30,000 martyrs and hundreds of thousands of wounded.
She continued, “The occupation continues to seize lands, colonize, displace, and dismember cities within the theory of occupation based on the fact that the land is theirs.”
She added that occupied Palestine, especially Gaza, has become a real hell for women, as the occupation targets life in all its meanings. In Gaza, the entire human rights system was destroyed, and all the world’s slogans about international law and international humanitarian law. However, our people remain hopeful of supporting every individual who possesses humanity to defend his rights.
She pointed out that UNRWA is facing a challenge in light of the targeting of it by forces, as this constitutes a liquidation of the Palestinian right to return, and a violation of the immunity of the occupation, stressing the role of international organizations and boycotting the occupation.
For her part, the representative of the coalition, Kifah Radaida, said, “We are here to stand against injustice and occupation, and we strive to achieve freedom for Palestine and its people. We work seriously and determinedly to achieve justice and peace, and we will spare no effort in continuing the humanitarian struggle, guided by the principles of international law, and we are here to be a voice.” “For the oppressed, and let us stand against forms of injustice and extremism.”
She called on all individuals and organizations to join the coalition to achieve the Palestinian dream of freedom and independence, noting that the coalition supports every effort that contributes to enhancing global awareness regarding the Palestinian issue.
In addition, the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Palestine, Sean Benfeldt, said that his country believes in the importance of international solidarity and the struggle based on progressive thought, and that the Palestinian issue must be resolved to bring peace to the Middle East.
He added that the occupation violates the rights of the Palestinian people and commits genocide in Gaza, and what is happening is a crime against humanity.
He explained that Israel practices an apartheid regime, discriminates against the Palestinian people, and continues to build more illegal and illegal colonies, and this is the main cause of instability, and the most prominent obstacle to achieving the two-state solution and just peace.
He pointed out that his country is committed to a just peace that guarantees Palestinian sovereignty, which cannot be achieved without reaching a just solution for the Palestinian people.
The coalition called for strengthening international solidarity around the world to support the Palestinian people, stressing the importance of continuity and action at the international, regional and local levels.
The launch event included a video showing the voice of the people of the Gaza Strip, and another video expressing the suffering of women and children in particular.