Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s speech in the Turkish Parliament on Thursday, in which he announced his intention to head to the Gaza Strip, received extensive coverage from Arab media, both official and private.
In his speech from the podium of the Turkish Parliament earlier on Thursday, attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, members of his government, and all Turkish parties, Abbas announced his intention to go to Gaza with all members of the Palestinian leadership, in a step he hopes will help stop the ongoing Israeli war that has been waged since October 7.
Abbas called on the United Nations Security Council to ensure his and the Palestinian leadership’s safe passage to Gaza, inviting leaders of Arab, Islamic, and friendly countries, as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, to participate in the visit.
In terms of Arab media attention to Abbas’s speech, the Saudi Press Agency published a news item titled, “President of the State of Palestine Calls for Immediate Halt to Israeli Aggression on Gaza.”
The agency focused on the Palestinian president’s announcement of his intention to go to Gaza and his call for the Security Council to secure the visit.
Under the headline, “The Palestinian President Announces His Intention to Go with All Members of the Palestinian Leadership to Gaza,” the Qatari News Agency covered Mahmoud Abbas’s speech in the Turkish Parliament, noting that the speech was delivered in the presence of President Erdoğan.
Oman’s official news agency also dedicated space to President Abbas’s speech. Under the headline “Abbas: Israel is Waging Genocide Against the Palestinian People,” the agency highlighted Abbas’s condemnation of the international silence regarding the crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people since Tel Aviv began its war on Gaza over ten months ago.
Similarly, Egypt’s official news agency highlighted Abbas’s remarks in the Turkish Parliament in a report titled, “The Palestinian President: We Face Historical Injustice and War Crimes and Genocide.” The report emphasized President Abbas’s appreciation of Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan’s roles in supporting the Palestinian cause and his intention to head to Gaza.
Media Coverage in Private Outlets
The wide-ranging media reaction to Abbas’s speech also extended to private Arab media outlets. Saudi media, in particular, focused on Abbas’s announcement regarding his intention to go to Gaza. Al-Arabiya channel published coverage on its website under the title: “Abbas in Turkish Parliament: I Will Go to Gaza.”
Similarly, the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat dedicated space to Abbas’s speech in a report titled, “Abbas in Turkish Parliament: I Decided to Go to Gaza with the Palestinian Leadership.”
In Egypt, Al-Qahera News highlighted Abbas’s speech in the Turkish Parliament with extensive coverage, including several headlines such as “Palestinian President Calls on the Security Council to Secure His Access to Gaza” and “Abbas: We Are Surprised by the International Community’s Silence in the Face of Daily Atrocities by the Occupation in Gaza.”
Qatari media outlets, including Al-Jazeera and Al-Television Al-Arabi, also covered Abbas’s speech in the Turkish Parliament with headlines like “Palestinian President: I Call on the Security Council to Ensure Our Access to the Gaza Strip” and “Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas: I Decided to Go with All Members of the Palestinian Leadership to Gaza.”
In Algeria, the newspaper Al-Bilad addressed President Abbas’s comments in a coverage titled, “Mahmoud Abbas Announces His Intention to Go with All Palestinian Leadership to Gaza.”
Abbas’s speech in the Turkish Parliament comes as Israel, with American support, has waged a devastating war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in over 132,000 Palestinian casualties, including martyrs and wounded, most of whom are women and children, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and a deadly famine.
