RAMALLAH - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that the Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves against the "Israeli violations".
During an emergency leadership meeting held in Ramallah, Abbas instructed the concerned Palestinian authorities to provide everything necessary "to strengthen the steadfastness of the Palestinians in the face of crimes committed by the Israeli occupation and settler gangs", Xinhua quoted the Palestinian official news agency Wafa’s report.
Abbas will chair in the coming hours another meeting of the Palestinian leadership, including members of the Executive Committees of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Central Committee of Fatah, and leaders of the security services, Wafa noted.
It was the first-ever comment issued by Abbas following Hamas's sudden military escalation against Israel. Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. In addition, tens of its militants infiltrated into Israeli towns adjacent to the coastal enclave and fired at the Israeli settlers, causing casualty tolls.
Israeli Army Spokesman Avichai Adraee said in a statement that the Israeli army will defend the residents of Israel, noting "the Hamas organisation will pay a heavy price". - BERNAMA-XINHUA