The Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat delivered a message at a rally in Khan Younis, Gaza, Palestine, calling for freedom for Sa’adat and all Palestinian prisoners on October 19. The mass rally in Khan Younis brought together members, supporters and allies of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the political party Sa’adat heads, as well as local community members and youth activists.
The rally featured dabkeh (Palestinian folk dance) performances and a band performing national Palestinian songs from the history of the Palestinian revolution. Hani Thawabteh delivered the keynote speech at the event, saluting the prisoners and telling the story of Sa’adat and his comrades, their imprisonment by the Palestinian Authority and later siege and kidnap by occupation military forces. He spoke about the importance of national unity and in particular, coming together to support the Palestinian resistance.
Thawabteh also addressed the current negotiations between PA officials and Israel, calling for an end to the negotiations which have served the interests of the occupation and provide cover for ongoing settlement-building, land confiscations and crimes against Palestinian people, while Adnan Fiqaawi delivered a solidarity speech on behalf of all Palestinian parties.
Khaled Barakat of the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat presented a recorded speech at the event. He saluted the people of Khan Younis and Gaza, gathering together to speak out for the steadfast prisoners in occupation jails. This event in Khan Younis and the spirit here “must remain present throughout the homeland, in diaspora and exile, for our prisoners in occupatio
n prisons continue to pound on the walls of the tank and call us to our national responsibilities,” said Barakat. “This is not the issue of 5,200 Palestinian prisoners. It is the cause of all of our people, and it is all of our responsibility. This event today places our compass in the right direction, with prisoners in their rightful, and central place.”
He saluted the organizers, saying that the event demonstrates that despite siege and attacks on Gaza, Palestinians of Gaza will not abandon the prisoners’ movement and the Palestinian cause and people everywhere, and that the prisoners will never be forgotten.
He continued, speaking of the importance of Palestinian unity to support the prisoners and their resistance and confront the enemy. “Our enemy is divided when we unite,” said Barakat. “Unity is necessary to achieve victory.”
Barakat said that national unity is the antithesis of the path of negotiations and subservience to the US, calling for Palestinian institutions and embassies to be placed under popular control, reflecting the agendas and voices of the broad Palestinian masses and not a small and authoritarian group that fails to represent the Palestinian people and uphold their rights.
He saluted the organizers, saying that the event demonstrates that despite siege and attacks on Gaza, Palestinians of Gaza will not abandon the prisoners’ movement and the Palestinian cause and people everywhere, and that the prisoners will never be forgotten.
He continued, speaking of the importance of Palestinian unity to support the prisoners and their resistance and confront the enemy. “Our enemy is divided when we unite,” said Barakat. “Unity is necessary to achieve victory.”
Barakat said that national unity is the antithesis of the path of negotiations and subservience to the US, calling for Palestinian institutions and embassies to be placed under popular control, reflecting the agendas and voices of the broad Palestinian masses and not a small and authoritarian group that fails to represent the Palestinian people and uphold their rights.
He saluted the organizers, saying that the event demonstrates that despite siege and attacks on Gaza, Palestinians of Gaza will not abandon the prisoners’ movement and the Palestinian cause and people everywhere, and that the prisoners will never be forgotten.
He continued, speaking of the importance of Palestinian unity to support the prisoners and their resistance and confront the enemy. “Our enemy is divided when we unite,” said Barakat. “Unity is necessary to achieve victory.”
Barakat said that national unity is the antithesis of the path of negotiations and subservience to the US, calling for Palestinian institutions and embassies to be placed under popular control, reflecting the agendas and voices of the broad Palestinian masses and not a small and authoritarian group that fails to represent the Palestinian people and uphold their rights.
Wide popular Palestinian participation in decision-making is necessary, Barakat said, as is leaving behind the so-called “peace process” based on US and Israeli promises. “No voice is louder than that of the Palestinian people.”
He urged the organization of more acticities like this, to build cohesion, national unity and solidarity by upholding and defending those who pay the price every day for Palestinian freedom.
