Leila Khaled enters Gaza: Celebrating resistance, the Intifada and the PFLP
Fight Back News Service is reprinting the following statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Leila Khaled, member of the Political Bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and icon of the Palestinian national liberation struggle, entered Gaza on Tuesday, December 4, met by a reception at the Rafah Crossing from Egypt. She will speak at a march and rally on Thursday, December 6 that will proceed from the Square of the Unknown Soldier at 11 AM, marking the 45th anniversary of the founding of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the 25th anniversary of the Intifada.
Comrade Khaled greeted the Palestinian people in Gaza, saying that their valiant resistance has taught the Zionist enemy a lesson it will never forget and thwarted its goals in its most recent assault. “I am proud of you, you raise all of our heads high. The entire Palestinian people is unified behind you, united with the resistance even when split on negotiations and calm, and in the camps and diaspora we hear the echoes of your struggle and say ‘We are with you, Gaza’. During the Zionist aggression, everywhere in the camps and in diaspora our people were cheering for the resistance.” She added, “I said that I am going to Gaza, this holy land of resistance which raised all of our heads high. I am going to my family, my friends and our people there. I bring with me great love from the parents who want to return to Gaza, Haifa, Yafa, Jerusalem and Ramallah. We want to return to all of Palestine and we will definitely return to all of Palestine.”
“At this moment I will repeat the words of the martyr and leader Abu Ali Mustafa: I come to continue the revolution, to continue resistance, and never to compromise on the constants.” Khaled said that it is never acceptable to bargain on the right of return, saying that “this right is baptized with the blood of the Palestinian people who will continue to struggle until achieving our goals and our return.”
She said that the aggression against the Gaza Strip is yet another round in the continuing struggle and though it will continue, it will meet with fierce resistance demanding that the occupation leave our land. “All Palestinian, Arab and free peoples are united behind the resistance, calling for a national strategy based first and foremost on national unity and resistance. Do not believe any truce with this occupation. Do not accept any negotiations with this occupation. Our Palestinian people in the refugee camps cheer for resistance and reject calm and negotiations,” said Khaled.
Leila Khaled was welcomed to Gaza by a delegation of leaders, cadres and members of the Front in Gaza, raising Palestinian flags and PFLP banners, and travelled to the office of the PFLP in Gaza, where she received a large welcome. Comrade Dr. Maryam Abu Daqqa, member of the Political Bureau of the Front in Gaza said that this is a historic moment and saluted all of the resistance fighters that brought our cause pride and victories before the world on the land of Gaza.