Gaza Left Front manifests support for Tunisian people

A bit late to report this, but on January 19 a solidarity rally for the struggles of the Tunisian people was held in Gaza City, organized by the Left Front (PFLP, DFLP, PPP). Full report in Arabic in al-Hourriah.

This types of manifestations are almost always overlooked by Western media. Notably, Zionist advocates generally argue that Arab attention to Palestine is unilateral (and hipocritical). The Jasmine Revolution (or Bread Revolution, whatever you call it) has proven that assessment to be utterly incorrect. The Arab people are deeply concerned by the region as a whole, and when an popular ouburst occurs like in Tunisia all democratic forces of the region respond to it.

News links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

PFLP: Palestinian National Council meeting should stick to its agenda

From Maan;

Gaza – Ma'an – The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) on Monday announced its rejection of additional items to the agenda of an urgent convention of the Palestinian National Council (PNC).

The leftist Palestinian faction said only one item should be discussed during the session: updates to the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee membership.

According to Abu Ahmad Fuad, a member of the PFLP's politburo, some Executive Committee members and Palestinian faction leaders sought to add other items to the session's agenda. He warned that adding anything new would be in violation of the 14th article of the Palestinian Basic Law, and could escalate tensions.

Fuad also stressed that the PNC session not impede the national dialogue between Hamas and Fatah, nor replace the 2005 agreement between all Palestinian factions to reconstruct the PLO.

"PFLP demands investigation into reports of Israeli organ harvesting"

Article at Maan News. Statement (in Arabic) at PFLP website. Another article at Maan: Researcher says Swedish paper's organ report could be true.

May Day in Palestine

This is a bit late, the blog haven't been updated the past week, but anyway here's a video (via ISM) of the massive May Day rally held in Gaza City.

The rally was organized by the Left Front (PFLP, DFLP, PPP)

Report at PPP website, May Day declaration of the Progressive Labour Bloc, report at PFLP website, May Day declaration of the United Labour Bloc.

Other International Workers Day meetings were held throughout Palestine. Below a video from the protests in Bil'in.

PFLP slams Fateh and Hamas for their inability to achieve reconciliation

"Gaza - paltoday - The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) slammed on Thursday Fateh and Hamas movements for failing to achieve reconciliation, and demanded the two factions achieve a deal that ends the internal rifts and restores unity."

Read full article at Paltoday.

PLO list wins UNRWA union election in Gaza

This week, a list of four PLO factions (Fatah, PFLP, DFLP and the Palestinian People's Party) won the UNRWA union elections in the Gaza strip. The PLO list won control over two of three unions (Employees and Service unions) as well as the Executive Committee of the General Workers Union, defeating the incumbent Hamas leadership. Hamas, retained control over the Teachers Union (a position it has held for 16 consecutive years).

There were also some independents and minor factions in the fray.

UNRWA is the most important employer in Gaza, employing some 10,100 Gazans. Turn-out at the union election was high, 97% of employees participated.

Interestingly, whilst Arabic media has highlighted that Hamas was defeated in 2 out of 3 unions and lost control over the union executive, Jerusalem Post ran the headline "Hamas wins teachers union elections for UN schools in Gaza".

Sources: Jerusalem Post, al-Hourriah, Palestinian People's Party, Wafa

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Update: Haaretz has an article on the post-election scenario, written by Amira Hass.

PFLP holds memorial for martyr Hassan Hijazi in Jabaliya camp - demand Hamas killers be held accountable

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine organized a memorial service in Jabaliya refugee camp, Gaza strip, in memory of PFLP martyr Hassan Hijazi. Hijazi had been kidnapped and executed by Hamas fighters. At the function, speakers demanded that the killers be held accountable. In his speech PFLP Central Committee member Hussian al-Jamal stated that the PFLP won't lose its compass and would continue to bear in mind that the occupation is the main enemy, but that it would demand justice for martyr Hassan Hijazi and other victims of Hamas attacks. A speaker representing the Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades (see photo) stated that the killers of Hijazi must be brought to justice and incidents such as Hijazi's murder must not be allowed to be repeated.

Source: PFLP website

PFLP protest in Beit Lahiya, in support of dialogue and unity

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, in cooperation with the National Democratic Rally, organized a manifestation in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza strip in support of the Cairo dialogue and national unity. The protestors condemned the failure of Palestinian factions to reach an agreement in Cairo. In his speech Mahmoud Salman, the leader of PFLP in Beit Lahiya, called on Palestinian factions to realize the dangers of the incoming Israeli far-right government, based on Zionist hatred against Arabs. The internal divisions amongst the Palestinians enables the enemy to continue the "...policies of the occupation of the land, killing and terrorism, Judaization of Jerusalem and the displacement of people and the building of settlements, and the campaigns of arrest and assassination of leaders and continuing our activists, as well as the continuation of the Apartheid wall, doubling the number of checkpoints in the West Bank, and the continuation of the unjust embargo on our people."

Source: PFLP website

PFLP: Israeli prison authorities torture the Popular Front general secretary, Ahmad Sa'adat

In a statement issued by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the organization states that "Israeli prison service keeps transferring [PFLP general secretary Ahmad] Sa'adat from one jail to another, under dire conditions in light of his bad health condition. He has been suffering pains in his back and stomach in Israel's custody as a result of bad conditions in detention."

Source: Maan News Agency, PFLP website

Uproar over death of Hamas activist in PA prison

Several Palestinian organizations have protested the death of Hamas activist Abd aj-Jamil al-Haj in a PA prison on the West Bank. According to some claims, his death was result of torture. His family claims that he had been arrested for political reasons, and that no charges had been made against him.

The National and Islamic Forces (a broad coalition including both Hamas and PLO factions) has issued a call for forming an independent committee to investigate the circumstances of al-Haj's death. The PFLP has urged, supporting the call of the NIF, both the Hamas and Fatah movements to uphold the National Accord and Cairo Declaration. Secretaries of the Fatah movement in the West Bank has also called upon the PA to open an investigation into the matter.

Four Palestinian political parties call upon Hamas to stop infringements of people's liberties in the Gaza strip

Four Palestinian political parties, namely the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Palestinian People's Party and the Islamic Jihad Movement, have issued a joint call appealing to Hamas to cease its "practices of abuse against the citizens" of the Gaza Strip. The appeal was issued at a joint meeting of the four political groups in the Gaza Strip. The four groups also formed a joint committee in order to "strengthen the steadfastness of our people and get rid of all the wrong and destructive practices damaging the national unity".

According the PFLP politburo member Dr. Rabah Muhanna, the conduct of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip has a negative impact on the unity of the resistance of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The PFLP has noted that various Gaza residents have been shot in their legs or severely beaten in the recent past. The culprits are generally unknown, but accusations are often directed against Hamas and Fatah forces. The PFLP also highlights restrictions put by the Hamas movement on the work of human rights NGOs as well as politically motivated detentions in the Gaza Strip.

Separately, the jailed PFLP General Secretary Ahmad Sa'adat has stated that the failure to reconcile political differences between Palestinians will only benefit Israel.

Source: PFLP website, Maan News Agency, Svenska Amnesty on situationen i Gaza efter massakern, SvD

PFLP condemns Hamas' "repressive practices of intimidation" in Gaza

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has issued a statement today, calling on Hamas to end its "extrajudicial repressive practices of intimidation exercised by the organs of the Hamas movement in the Gaza strip". According to the statement, Hamas has attacked the PFLP cadres, subjecting them to kidnappings, severe beatings and shootings. The statement appealed to Hamas to immediately end its repressive actions against other Palestinian factions, and that all Palestinian groups should unite against the enemy.

The statement follows a statement issued on January 26 by the PFLP military wing, the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, which denounced Hamas forces for having opened fire on a group of AAMB fighters whilst they were in the process of firing a rocket against the enemy.

The PFLP has also rejected calls for exiled Hamas leader Khalid Meshal to sideline the PLO.

PFLP has condemned the policy of political arrests by the Abbas regime in the West Bank as well.

Ibrahim Abu An-Naja, a senior official of the Fatah movement, on its behalf, has sought to downplay claims of Hamas executions of Fatah militants in the Gaza strip during the bombings. An-Naja confirms that there were cases in which Fatah militants had been targetted by Hamas forces in the Gaza strip, but that number were far lower than the internationally widely circulated claims.

Links: Notice at Maan News Agency, LV

PFLP condemns Israel's expulsion of Venezuelan diplomat to the PA

In a statement released today, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine condemns the expulsion by Israeli occupation authorities of the ambassador of Venezuela to the Palestinian Authority. According to a PFLP spokesperson, the act is symptomatic of Israel's arrogance and complete disregard to any of the agreements signed between the occupying power and the PA. Source: PFLP website

Leftwing forces salute the international solidarity with Palestine

Four leftwing groups met yesterday and in their joint statement, which condemned the brutality of the Israeli aggression and called for broad Palestinian national unity, a message was conveyed to the millions around the world who arose in defense of the people of Gaza during the last month:

"And we also salute all the forces, movements and solidarity groups, from around the entire world which acted in solidarity with our people, led by the diverse freedom-lovers. Especially we pay tribute to the left-wing and communist states, forces and parties, movements of solidarity with the Palestinian people and in particular Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, as well as other forces and movements.

Long live the Palestinian national unity,
Glory and eternity for our innocent martyrs,
and Forward for the sake of unity, freedom and democracy

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Palestinian People's Party, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality"

(unofficial translation by the Gaza; Peace n' Freedom blog)

Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades block IOF troop transport near Beit Hanoun

The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the PFLP, conducted an action this morning, east of Beit Hanoun. At 5:30 a.m. they engaged a group of Israeli Occupation Forces with heavy gunfire, and blocked their transportation. The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades have not endorsed the unilateral cease-fire of Palestinian factions, and have vowed to continue resistance.

PFLP: Legitimacy is with the resistance

Ma'an News Agency has produced an interesting commentary interview with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, on the current phase of the liberation struggle. Some excerpts;

"Both Hamas and the PFLP are in the camp of resistance, the camp of defending our people, our cause and our fundamental rights. Both the PFLP and Hamas reject so-called "negotiations," reject cooperation with the occupier, and reject any so-called political solutions based on the denial and abrogation of the rights of our people. The parties both stand united in resistance to the massacres and genocide being committed against the Palestinian people. This is the unity, and the relationship, that matters now: unity, in struggle, for our people, our cause, and our rights."

"The only Palestinian legitimacy that matters now is the legitimacy of resistance. This is the definition of our national unity - confronting the occupier and its crimes against our people and upholding and defending our people and our rights. The legitimacy now is not that of the "Palestinian Authority" - legitimacy is formed by standing with the resistance, with our steadfast people, against the crimes of the occupier. This is a defining moment for the Palestinian national movement and the Palestinian cause, facing an enemy bent on its destruction, and the question is for all: to be with the resistance or to stand aside and thus allow the assault to continue."

Nayaf Hawatme, DFLP General Secretary calls for a United Resistance Front

In an interview to al-Arabiya December 28, 2008, posted at the al-Hourriya website, veteran Palestinian leader and DFLP general secretary Nayaf Hawatmeh outlined the need for a United Resistance Front against the aggression.

"We we have held a series of meetings between the Democratic Front, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front with this purpose before the start of Israeli military operations over the previous ten days, we had meetings yesterday under the shelling in Gaza. We have also held meetings with our brothers in Fatah in more than one location in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Lebanon and elsewhere, and the answers were positive that people are ready for such steps,"