Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking in the Turkish parliament on Thursday, August 15, announced his intention to visit the Gaza Strip, the Turkish publication Sabah reports.
“I have decided to go to Gaza with other brothers from the Palestinian leadership. I will do it. Even if it costs me my life,” Abbas said. And further: “Gaza is ours in its entirety. We do not accept any solution to the conflict that would divide our territories. Without Gaza, there can be no Palestinian state.”
It should be noted that Abbas will need permission from the Israeli authorities to travel to Gaza.
Mahmoud Abbas has not visited Gaza since December 2006. In June 2007, Hamas seized power in the strip through a military coup, overthrowing the Fatah administration.