PA president cancels Eid celebrations following Israel’s attack on Gaza

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday cancelled the official Eid Al-Fitr celebrations “to mourn the Palestinian martyrs” killed by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian presidency said Abbas contacted the member of the Fatah Central Committee, Ahmed Helles, North Gaza Governor, Salah Abu Warda, and other officials in the Gaza Strip, to follow up on the ongoing Israeli aggression on the besieged enclave that has led to the death of 35 Palestinians including ten children and a pregnant woman.

Abbas also stressed the importance of the Palestinian people’s steadfastness and unity “in the face of this aggression that affects all of our people in Gaza and the West Bank, and Jerusalem.”

Meanwhile, Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu-Rudeinah said: “East Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine in accordance with international legitimacy and international law.”

READ: Arabs in Israel call for mass protests in support of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque

This came in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement that: “Jerusalem will remain the united capital of Israel.”

Abu-Rudeinah added that Netanyahu’s “inflammatory” rhetoric, disavowal of agreements, and violation of international law, “pushes the situation towards the unknown”.

Muslims around the world will be marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan tomorrow with Eid Al-Fitr celebrations.