In the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Shtayyeh, several members of the Executive Committees of the Liberation Organization and the Central Committee of the Fatah movement, members of the Revolutionary Council of the movement, several ministers, and the foundation's administration, the Yasser Arafat Foundation commemorated the 19th anniversary of the founding leader's martyrdom on, Saturday, November 11, 2023, in the backyard of his tomb in the city of Ramallah.
This year's commemoration events consisted just of standing and praying for compassion on his pure soul and the souls of all our martyrs, because of the genocidal war to which our people are subjected, particularly in the glorious Gaza Strip, and because the martyrs are more noble than all of us.
In the President’s speech, which was delivered on his behalf by Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Shtayyeh, he welcomed the audience, " And on behalf of all of you, we pray for the martyrs of Gaza, the West Bank, and the diaspora, and the spirit of the national leader, Yasser Arafat, on the 19th anniversary of his martyrdom."
Shtayyeh said: “Children, doctors, and patients face death, slow killing, and planes and tanks launched by the Israeli occupation.”
He added that Gaza is being subjected to a massacre and genocide, and whoever is not martyred by the bullets of the occupation dies as a wounded and sick person, and in all the war crimes in the world, no doctor, patient, journalist, or child was killed.
Shtayyeh called for these crimes to stop, and said that this genocide against the people must end.
He went on, "Anyone who claims that Israeli occupation is defending itself is endorsing the occupation, is ignorant of international law, and is standing by the occupation. Its entire course of conduct is against the law and justice."
He continued, saying, "I call on the whole world to raise their voices and stop the waterfall of blood." The Palestinian people in Gaza are currently going through a bloody phase.
He emphasized that we are more concerned with the day when the occupation ends its savage aggression than we are with those who talk about the second day of aggression. We do not want the world to talk about relief and then turn around and kill us; instead, Gaza needs this bloody aggression to end immediately. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Arab Islamic Summit should be satisfied with tangible actions rather than just statements.
Dr. Ahmed Sobh, Director General of the Yasser Arafat Foundation, welcomed the audience and mentioned that Yasser Arafat, the father of patriotism, survived multiple sieges like a phoenix. He emphasized that today, the foundation commemorates the president in his shrine square and near his last siege headquarters, despite the difficult events faced by our people, including destruction, killing, and displacement.
Dr. Ahmed Sobh emphasized three key messages in his address. The first was a call for steadfastness, exemplified by Abu Ammar's adherence to national constants. The second message emphasized the importance of national unity in overcoming the barbaric aggression targeting the Palestinian national project. The people must reject division and rivalry, and in Gaza, they are waiting for our unity to confront displacement. The third message was to the Arab and Islamic nations, urging them to support the Palestinian people in Gaza and break the aggression with steadfastness. Palestinian people need their Arab and Islamic neighbors to enforce ceasefires and stop the aggression.
On the 19th anniversary of the founding president of Palestine's martyrdom, wreaths were laid on his tomb. Al-Fatiha was recited for his soul and the martyrs of Palestine. The President's wreath was laid by Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Shtayyeh, followed by the Speaker of the National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, and his deputy, Musa Hadid, and the Executive Committee of the Liberation Organization and the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement. The Yasser Arafat Foundation's Board of Directors, administration, and staff also laid a wreath. Major General Yousef Al-Helu, Director General of the Palestinian Police, Ramzi Rabah, and Qais Abdel Karim contributed to the event. At the end, many wreaths bearing the names of ministries and institutions were laid.
