Fatah Supporters Rally in Gaza to Commemorate 13th Anniversary of Arafat’s Death

Fatah supporters take part in a rally marking the death anniversary of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in Gaza City November 11, 2017 (Reuters)
Fatah supporters take part in a rally marking the death anniversary of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in Gaza City November 11, 2017 (Reuters)
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Fatah Supporters Rally in Gaza to Commemorate 13th Anniversary of Arafat’s Death

Fatah supporters take part in a rally marking the death anniversary of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in Gaza City November 11, 2017 (Reuters)
Fatah supporters take part in a rally marking the death anniversary of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in Gaza City November 11, 2017 (Reuters)

Fatah Movement in the Gaza Strip marked the 13th anniversary of the death of Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat in a mass rally that gathered hundreds of thousands of people in the Saraya Square in the city center. The movement described the rally as a proof of its popularity and large presence in Gaza, ten years after Hamas took control over the area.

Ahmed Halas, a member of the movement’s central committee and its leader in the Gaza Strip, said those who besieged Arafat were now trying to oppose Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He stressed that the late president laid the foundations for maintaining the independent Palestinian decision and raising the slogan of non-interference in the affairs of other countries, “a slogan that still stands, and is the title of our cooperation and our relationship with all forces and countries.”

Halas emphasized that the Fatah movement would not relinquish efforts towards reconciliation with Hamas, and that it would go beyond any differences and obstacles that might arise, noting that the movement would not return to divisions and would strive to achieve the settlement.

Saturday’s rally was the first to be held by Fatah movement in the wake of the ongoing talks to achieve Palestinian reconciliation between the movement and Hamas.

Palestinians marched from distant areas to participate in the festival, and raised Palestinian and Fatah flags, along with pictures of Arafat and Abbas. Representatives and leaders of all the factions were present, but a shy representation of Hamas was noted in the event.

The Palestinian president delivered a speech on the occasion, in which he spoke about the memory of the late President Arafat and his role in national unity and revolutionary positions, pledging to follow the path of “Abu Ammar”, whom he described more than once as “his brother”.



Aid to Gaza 'Facing Total Collapse', Warn 12 NGOs

 A Palestinian boy looks through a hole in the wall into a damaged room after an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 17, 2025. (AFP)
A Palestinian boy looks through a hole in the wall into a damaged room after an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 17, 2025. (AFP)
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Aid to Gaza 'Facing Total Collapse', Warn 12 NGOs

 A Palestinian boy looks through a hole in the wall into a damaged room after an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 17, 2025. (AFP)
A Palestinian boy looks through a hole in the wall into a damaged room after an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 17, 2025. (AFP)

The humanitarian aid system in Gaza is "facing total collapse" because of Israel's blockade on aid supplies since March 2, the heads of 12 major aid organizations warned Thursday, urging Israel to let them "do our jobs".

Israel has vowed to maintain its blockage on humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged territory, saying it is the only way to force Hamas to release the 58 hostages still held there.

"Every single person in Gaza is relying on humanitarian aid to survive," the chief executives of 12 NGOs, including Oxfam and Save the Children, wrote in a joint statement.

"That lifeline has been completely cut off since a blockade on all aid supplies was imposed by Israeli authorities on March 2," they said, adding that "This is one of the worst humanitarian failures of our generation."

A survey of 43 international and Palestinian aid organizations working in Gaza found that almost all have suspended or drastically cut services since a ceasefire ended on March 18, "with widespread and indiscriminate bombing making it extremely dangerous to move around", the NGOs said.

"Famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost all parts of Gaza," they said. "Survival itself is now slipping out of reach and the humanitarian system is at breaking point."

"We call on all parties to guarantee the safety of our staff and to allow the safe, unfettered access of aid into and across Gaza through all entry points, and for world leaders to oppose further restrictions."

Israel's renewed assault has killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, bringing the overall toll since the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians.

Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.