Abbas condemns Israel's Gaza offensive, rejects displacement of Palestinians

RAMALLAH - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday denounced Israel's military actions in Gaza, calling them "unseen" in history and accusing the country of rendering Gaza uninhabitable.

Speaking during a televised address commemorating the 20th anniversary of the death of former leader Yasser Arafat, Abbas emphasized that Palestinians would not be forcibly displaced.

"Our people cannot be erased," he stated, highlighting that the Palestinian cause is at a critical juncture, with both Gaza and the West Bank facing violence and displacement due to ongoing Israeli attacks.

Abbas reaffirmed the Palestinian commitment to peace, calling for an end to the Israeli occupation and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Also on Sunday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Israel's construction of military corridors in Gaza, accusing Israel of dividing the territory and exacerbating the suffering of its residents. Israeli media reported that the Israeli army is reorganizing Gaza, creating three military corridors, and setting up permanent installations.

The Israeli military has already established the Netzarim Corridor, which separates Gaza into northern and southern zones. The 4-kilometer wide corridor has been transformed into a significant military base, including detention centers and command posts, with plans for two more such corridors, according to Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

Israel has launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas assault on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, which has resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages taken.

As of Sunday, health authorities in Gaza reported that the death toll from the Israeli offensive in the besieged enclave has reached 43,603.