In a historic speech to Turkey’s National Assembly in Ankara on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas thanked the Turkish people and government for their solidarity with Palestine and accused the United States of being a ‘plague’ for its complicity in Israel’s ‘genocide’ of Palestinians, announcing that he plans to ‘go to Gaza along with other Palestinian leaders’.
The expected speech by Abbas, who arrived in Turkey at the formal invitation of Turkish parliamentary speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and was received yesterday by Erdoğan at the presidential palace in Ankara, was interrupted on several occasions by applause from MPs packed into the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and from Erdoğan himself, who attended this special session of parliament, convened despite its official suspension during the summer.
All the MPs in attendance wore Palestinian shawls around their necks with the Turkish and Palestinian flags, and many of them displayed various images of Palestinians, including that of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political leader recently assassinated by Israel during an attack in Iran. After an opening speech by the speaker of parliament, Abbas was greeted with a standing ovation by all members of parliament as he entered the chamber, beginning his speech – which was simultaneously translated into Turkish, English and French – with the basmala (bismillahirrahmanirrahim).
During his speech, which Abbas delivered in a vehement tone and was frequently interrupted by applause from Turkish MPs, the Palestinian president warned against Israel’s attempts to spread the conflict throughout the Middle East, saying that Zionism must not be allowed to take control of the region. The Palestinian leader stressed that Gaza is not a separate entity from Palestine but is part of the Palestinian state itself; thanking Turkey and the Turkish people for their ‘unforgettable’ help and solidarity with the Palestinians, Abbas referred to accusations of genocide against Israel, assuring that the Israeli government will pay for its war crimes in Gaza.
‘I have decided to go to Gaza. My life is no more valuable than that of a child’
Abbas also singled out the US as complicit in crimes against Palestinians, accusing Washington of being a ‘plague’ for its ‘relentless’ support for Israel, and vowed to do everything in his power to stop Israeli aggression even if it means ‘risking my own life’. During his speech, the Palestinian president also made an important announcement, saying that he plans to travel to Gaza despite the risk involved.
‘I have decided to go to Gaza with other brother Palestinian leaders. I am going to do it, even if it costs me my life. Our lives are not more valuable than the life of a child,’ Abbas vehemently declared, causing all Turkish MPs to stand and applaud him.
‘Gaza is completely ours. We do not accept any solution that involves the division of our territories. There can be no Palestinian state without Gaza. Our people will not surrender,’ Abbas said, insisting that the Strip is not an alien part of Palestine and assuring that the resistance of the Palestinian people will endure despite Israeli aggression and occupation.
‘On behalf of our struggling, patient and resilient Palestinian people, we are committed to our identity as a nation, to our legitimate rights, to our land and to our holy sites. We are destined for independence, sooner or later we will achieve it, no matter what. The occupation will end, and Palestine will be free and eternal. Glory and eternity to our innocent martyrs, healing to our wounded, freedom to our brave captives!! All together towards freedom, towards independence and towards Jerusalem! Long live the brotherhood between Palestine and Turkey!! Thank you Turkey, thank you brotherly people!! Thank you President Erdoğan!! Thank you for your support for the Palestinian people and their cause!!’ were the last words with which Abbas ended his speech, delivered as all present gave a standing ovation, shouts and cheers.
The historic event held today in the Turkish parliament was also attended by numerous ambassadors. The invitation to Abbas to visit Turkey to address the Turkish parliament is a response to Netanyahu’s speech to the US Congress in late July, which was widely criticised by Turkey’s political establishment for coming in the midst of the massacres in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed by the Israeli offensive. The visit is doubly important given that the 88-year-old Palestinian president rarely travels outside Ramallah – home to the Palestinian National Authority – because of health problems.
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As a history lover, Pablo Gómez was captivated by Turkey from the first day he visited it in 2006: he got married there, has a house there… and has since become an expert on Turkey’s current affairs. With a long experience in media, he has been at the helm of hispanatolia.com since 2011.
