Mahmoud Abbas warns of annexation and settlement expansion

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the first session of the Fatah Revolutionary Council in Ramallah, emphasizing the leadership's primary responsibility to protect the Palestinian people, maintain territorial unity, and prevent displacement and annexation.

Abbas warned against the E1 settlement plan, stating it aims to separate the northern West Bank from the south and isolate East Jerusalem, thereby undermining the possibility of a contiguous independent state. He called on the international community to intervene and halt such plans.

Furthermore, Abbas highlighted the financial pressure exerted by Israel, noting the withholding of over six billion dollars in Palestinian funds. He described this as a policy intended to weaken national institutions and drive migration. He also stressed the importance of maintaining the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and Hebron.