Fatah lights 53rd anniversary torch in Gaza

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6 years ago

Palestinians gather to mark the 53rd Foundation anniversary of Palestinian Fatah movement at Unknown Soldiers Monument in Gaza City, Gaza on December 31, 2017 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinian supporters of the Fatah movement take part during a rally in Gaza City on December 31, 2017, marking the 53rd anniversary of the creation of the political party. [Mohammed Dahman / ApaImages]

Palestinian supporters of the Fatah movement take part during a rally in Gaza City on December 31, 2017, marking the 53rd anniversary of the creation of the political party. Photo by Mohammed Dahman

Palestinians gather to mark the 53rd Foundation anniversary of Palestinian Fatah movement at Unknown Soldiers Monument in Gaza City, Gaza on December 31, 2017 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

The Palestinian Fatah movement lit its 53rd anniversary torch of freedom in Gaza on Sunday, Anadolu has reported. The event took place in the presence of hundreds of Fatah supporters in the Square of the Unknown Soldier in the middle of Gaza City.

The movement’s yellow flag was raised alongside photographs of the late President Yasser Arafat and his successor Mahmoud Abbas. Fatah regards itself as the torchbearer of Palestinian liberation, and has lit a symbolic torch every year since its foundation on 1 January, 1965.

Fatah’s Central Committee member Ahmed Hellis told the rally that the torch will be kept alight as a symbol against all aggressors. The movement, he pointed out, has been involved in several struggles to achieve Palestinian national unity.

“This is the choice of the movement,” he insisted. “Today, we are sticking with national unity more than any time in the past due to the dangers engulfing our cause and our national rights.” He added that Fatah will continue its unity efforts with other national and Islamic factions despite “disparities” in their views. “We will continue looking for the common factor among the Palestinian factions because Palestine needs all the Palestinians.”

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Turning to the US announcement on Jerusalem, Hellis explained that the Palestinian political leadership led by President Mahmoud Abbas is continuing to fight this move, adding:

This battle proves that we are on the right political track. Hence, our goal is going to be achieved and we will have our State of Palestine.

Earlier, Fatah had announced that it would turn the celebration of its anniversary into popular resistance activities in solidarity with Jerusalem and against the US move.

Fatah was founded as a military movement with the goal of liberating Palestine. It became involved in direct and indirect secret talks with Israel until a peace deal was agreed in 1993. In 1998, Fatah dropped all articles of its Charter calling for military resistance against the Israeli occupation.

Palestinians gather to mark the 53rd Foundation anniversary of Palestinian Fatah movement at Unknown Soldiers Monument in Gaza City, Gaza on December 31, 2017 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinians come together in support of the Palestinian Fatah movement on 31 December 2017 [Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency]

Palestinians gather to mark the 53rd Foundation anniversary of Palestinian Fatah movement at Unknown Soldiers Monument in Gaza City, Gaza on December 31, 2017 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinians gather to mark the anniversary of Palestinian Fatah movement in Gaza City, Gaza on 31 December 2017 [Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency]

Palestinians gather to mark the 53rd Foundation anniversary of Palestinian Fatah movement at Unknown Soldiers Monument in Gaza City, Gaza on December 31, 2017 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinians attend the ceremony of the 53rd foundation anniversary of the Fatah movement at the Mausoleum of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah, West Bank on December 31, 2017 [Issam Rimawi / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech during the celebrations of the 53rd foundation anniversary of the Fatah movement at the Mausoleum of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah, West Bank on 31 December, 2017 [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends the ceremony of the 53rd foundation anniversary of the Fatah movement at the Mausoleum of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah, West Bank on December 31, 2017 [Issam Rimawi / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) lays a wreath to the Mausoleum of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during the celebrations of the 53rd foundation anniversary of the Fatah movement in Ramallah, West Bank on December 31, 2017 [Issam Rimawi / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas speaks outside the tomb of the late President Yasser Arafat during a celebration marking the fifty-third anniversary of the creation of the Fatah movement in the West Bank city of Ramallah on 31 December, 2017 [Thaer Ganaim/ApaImages]