Gazans rallying to commemorate the 55th anniversary for the launch of Fatah movement. (WAFA Images) 

GAZA, Wednesday, January 01, 2020 (WAFA) – Thousands of people gathered at al-Wihdeh Street in downtown Gaza City this afternoon to celebrate the 55^th anniversary for the launch of Fatah movement, reported WAFA correspondent.

He said people from all over the Hamas-controlled and Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip flocked to the center of Gaza City to take part in the central rally. They carried pictures of President Mahmoud Abbas and the later President Yasser Arafat and carried the yellow Fatah banner.

A taped speech by President Abbas was delivered to the crowds via video conference in which he affirmed to the people of Gaza that they will always be on his mind and in his heart.

“Our people in the Gaza Strip will always remain in our minds and hearts. You are with us and we are with you. The salvation is close, God willing, and it is not so far from God,” he said.

“The dangerous turning point of our national cause, as a result of the continuation of the aggressive Israeli policies and measures against our land and our people, demands from us to stand together, firm and strong, to protect our national project,” he added.

He reiterated his affirmation that "we will not accept holding elections without Jerusalem, and without the participation of our people in it," stressing that "Jerusalem, with its Christian and Islamic holy places, is the capital of our eternal state, and it is the jewel of the crown, and it is neither for sale nor for bargaining. For its sake, our people have sacrificed convoys of martyrs, prisoners, and wounded. Without Jerusalem and its Aqsa Mosque and Holy Sepulcher as the capital of the State of Palestine, there will be no peace and stability.”

The President added, "The world today has more faith in the justice of our cause and our legitimate right to liberation and independence. Here is the International Criminal Court taking a courageous decision to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against our people so that we can try this occupation for its crimes before international justice."

He also asserted that "the issue of our prisoners, our wounded and our martyrs is a red line, and they are not up for bargaining or negotiation, whatever the price."

The President watched the anniversary commemoration in Gaza City on TV screens at the television headquarters in Ramallah in the presence of the General Supervisor of the Official Media Ahmad Assaf.

Commenting on the event in Gaza, President Abbas said that “this day is a day of joy for our Palestinian people, and a day of pride during which our people assert that they want to live, be independent, united and free."

The President added, "Our people in Gaza are an integral part of our Palestinian people, and dear to our hearts. They are an important part of our life and we are proud of that. What we see today in Gaza is our greatest pride that we will, God willing, reach the happy end, which is the establishment of our independent Palestinian state with its capital holy Jerusalem, by hook or by crook.”

M.K.