Palestinian leader: defense against Israel’s crimes is legitimate

Ramallah, Oct 7 (Prensa Latina) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that his people have the right to defend themselves against the ongoing crimes committed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli settlers.

October 7, 2023
08:12

Abbas chaired an emergency meeting with civil and security officials on Saturday, hours after an offensive launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) against Israel.

The Wafa news agency quoted Abbas’s statement in which he called on government institutions to provide protection to the people, although he did not mention the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Health Minister Mai Al-Kaila declared a state of emergency in all Palestinian hospitals.

Hamas launched thousands of rockets against Israel early in the morning, after which dozens of its combatants crossed the border of the Gaza Strip and entered Israel, where they occupied military bases and several towns, according to press reports and images posted on social media.

IDF sources quoted by the Walla news portal admitted that Hamas occupied several Israeli settlements.

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