Ex-adviser to Arafat criticises PA’s failure to support Great March of Return

A former adviser to the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Bassam Abu Sharif has criticised the Palestinian Authority and current President Mahmoud Abbas for failing to support the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip.

“There is a clear failure by the Palestinian Authority leadership regarding the mobilisation of the Palestinian masses in the West Bank or having a plan to support the Marches of Return activities in Gaza,” Abu Sharif said in an interview with Quds Press.

“President Abbas took a good decision when he rejected the deal of the century and refused to surrender to American pressure, but this decision must be followed by real steps on the ground,” he added.

Abu Sharif has also criticised the failure of Palestinian missions and consulates abroad to support Gaza following the death of 33 Palestinians and wounding of nearly 3,000 during the Great March of Return. “Our ambassadors must move better to draw the world’s attention to this issue,” he added.

Read: Why did Palestinians take part in the Great March of Return?