![Palestinian orphans protest against Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Gaza strip, Gaza on 2 February 2019 - [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/RafahIMG_9930.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Popular court in Gaza indicted on Sunday Palestinian Authority (PA), Fatah and PLO President Mahmoud Abbas for “crimes he committed against the Palestinians,” Safa news agency reported.
The virtual trial was organised by the Popular Movement for National Salvation (PMNS) in partnership with graduates, tribes leaders and families of prisoners, martyrs and the wounded who had their salaries cut by Abbas.
Judges and lawyers for Abbas and witnesses attended the trial where the president was represented through recordings of his previous speeches.
The attorney general read the indictment which included charges of misusing power, causing death of tens of Palestinians after depriving them of treatment, cutting salaries and aid for widows and orphans and cutting electricity supplies for Gaza, as well as taking part in the Gaza blockade.
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He was indicted for violating Palestinian Basic Law, closing the Palestinian parliament and committing numerous crimes against the Palestinians.
Defending him, his lawyer said: “My client carried out his role as a president for the Palestinian authority.”
The judge upheld all the charges and said that Abbas had “intentionally” carried out these crimes which caused harms to tens of thousands of Palestinians.
At the end of the trial, the judges approved the indictment and decided that he should face the severest punishment stipulated by law.
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