RAMALLAH, July 29, 2026 (WAFA) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said  that the convening of the General Union of Palestinian Students' conference is not merely a resumption of the work of a long-established national institution, but a restoration of the role of one of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO), describing it as a platform for national unity and democracy, a school for developing future leaders, and a bridge connecting generations of Palestinian students in the homeland and the diaspora.

In his address via video conference during the opening of the 11th General Union of Palestinian Students' conference, held in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Wednesday, he commended the convening of the conference, thirty-six years after the last conference held in Baghdad, noting that it comes at a time when the Palestinian people are facing one of the most critical periods in their modern history.

"The Palestinian people have proven throughout their long struggle that the will to live is stronger than all attempts at uprooting and erasure," President Abbas said. "A people who preserve their identity, protect their collective memory, and invest in the education and awareness of their youth cannot be defeated by occupation or have their cause extinguished through repression and aggression."

He  added that the General Union of Palestinian Students, since its founding, has been a national institution, a political and cultural platform, and a training ground for leaders who have contributed to building the Palestinian national movement and consolidating the status of the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

He paid tribute to the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, one of the most prominent founders of this union, who believed that universities are the training ground for national leaders and that students will always remain at the forefront of the struggle for freedom and independence.

He also  addressed the conference participants, saying: "The history of the Union is not an occasion to celebrate the past, but rather a responsibility towards the future. Today, we must draw inspiration from its values ​​and spirit, and develop its tools to keep pace with the changing times and enhance the presence of Palestinian students in the fields of science, innovation, and global public opinion."

The President emphasized that protecting our students' right to education and rebuilding universities and academic institutions in Gaza will remain a national priority, because reconstruction begins with building people before rebuilding infrastructure.

He reiterated that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the land of the State of Palestine, and there can be no Palestinian state without Gaza, nor can it have a future except within the framework of a unified Palestinian state.

The President saluted the Palestinian people lived in refugee camps and Palestinian communities, who have made education a path to resilience and preserving national identity despite the harshness of displacement and difficult circumstances.

"Recognizing the challenges facing our people, we directed the establishment of the Mahmoud Abbas Foundation in 2010 to support our students, and through the 'Student' program, we have been able to support more than 12,000 students."

He said that among the graduates are those who have become scientific and professional experts contributing to the service of Palestine and its people, both at home and in the diaspora, in addition to the three thousand currently enrolled in university.

The President stressed that no national or reform project can succeed without the active participation of youth, emphasizing that empowering them is not merely a slogan, but a national imperative that necessitates expanding their presence in state institutions, political parties, unions, federations, and decision-making centers.

President Abbas  affirmed that revitalizing the student movement is a national necessity and part of a broader process to renew the Palestinian political system, strengthen democracy and the rule of law, and build more efficient, transparent, and accountable institutions.

The President stated, “We began this path with the youth and local council elections and the Eighth Fatah Conference, and we will continue working to hold the legislative elections on November 28, followed by completing the formation of the Palestinian National Council, and then holding presidential elections next year.”

He added, “We are proceeding with the implementation of a comprehensive national program for reform and modernization, aimed at building a modern, unified, and democratic Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, encompassing the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” Gaza, based on the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the protection of public freedoms, and the promotion of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

He further stressed that the State of Palestine for which we struggle will be a single state, with one law, one legitimate institution, and one legitimate armed force, in accordance with the program of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of our Palestinian people.

The President called on the General Union of Palestinian Students to expand its partnerships with Arab and international student and youth unions and to transform global solidarity with Palestine into sustainable institutional action that strengthens the presence of our cause and enshrines the values ​​of freedom, justice, and peace.

Concluding his remarks, President Abbas expressed deep appreciation to Lebanon's leadership, government, and people for their continued support for Palestinians, reaffirming Palestine's full respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, security, stability, and territorial integrity. He also stressed that the presence of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is temporary until their return to their homeland.

Y.S