Palestinian factions to hold ‘historic’ unity rally in Gaza against Israeli annexation

Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah are gearing up for a “historic” joint rally in the blockaded Gaza Strip in a show of unity against Israel’s highly contentious plan to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank.

In a statement carried by the Palestinian WAFA news agency on Monday, Fatah Secretary General Jibril Rajoub announced that the West Bank-based political party and the Gaza-headquartered Hamas resistance movement will stage the demonstration “in the coming days.”

“The rally will be a historic point in consolidating the united Palestinian position in the face of the annexation project,” he said.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to annex about a third of the West Bank, including settlements and the fertile Jordan Valley.

The plan is, however, on hold amid deep divisions within Netanyahu’s coalition cabinet over the land grab bid.

US President Donald Trump had already given Tel Aviv the green light for the land grab in his self-proclaimed “deal of the century,” which was unveiled in January with the aim of re-drawing the Middle East map.

Rajoub said both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also Fatah chairman, and other national leaders will speak at the upcoming Gaza event, without elaborating on whether the speeches will be made via video link.

Meanwhile, Hamas political bureau member Khalil al-Hayya said that the head of the resistance movement, Ismail Haniyeh, will also speak at the event.

“This is a message to all sides. We are stressing the unified position of our people in all its factions and forces, wherever they are located, against the annexation plan,” Hayya added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rajoub noted that the joint rally would send a message of Palestinian unity to the world, saying, “We must raise the voices of the united Palestinian people, who adhere to the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem [al-Quds] as its capital, based on the 1967 borders and the return of refugees in accordance with international law, under the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization.”

At a joint press conference on July 2, Hamas and Fatah pledged unity against Israel’s annexation of Palestinian areas and vowed to “topple” Trump's Middle East plan.

Palestinian Hamas, Fatah join hands against Israel’s annexation plan

The Palestinian rival groups, Hamas and Fatah, have pledged to stand against Israel’s annexation plan.

Egypt supports Palestinian cause

In another development on Monday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Abbas in Ramallah, where he affirmed Cairo’s support for the Palestinians’ right to establish an independent state based on the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital.

Shoukry also rejected any “unilateral” moves or decisions by Israel to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The two further discussed steps to pave the way for the resumption of efforts to achieve a so-called two-state solution within the framework of international law and the Arab Peace Initiative, and help preserve the Palestinian people’s rights.

Ismail Haniyeh: Unified Palestinian position thwarts Israel’s annexation plan

‘If there is a unified Palestinian position, then surely we will be able to thwart this plan.’

Jordan discusses ways to prevent annexation

Also on Monday, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi exchanged views with his Luxembourg and Indonesian counterparts on international efforts aimed at preventing Israel from implementing its annexation plan.

In a telephone conversation with Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, Safadi commended Luxembourg’s “genuine” warning against the dangers of the Israeli land grab bid and rejection of efforts meant to impose changes in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Safadi further highlighted the importance of the European Union’s role in “opening new avenues” towards a just peace on the basis of the so-called two-state solution and international law, according to a statement released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry.

Talks between the two sides focused on taking an international position in denunciation of the annexation and the resumption of “serious” negotiations to resolve the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

During Safadi’s phone call with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, the two top diplomats stressed that the annexation scheme violates international law and undermines the two-state bid along with all efforts aimed at achieving a just peace that fulfills the Palestinians’ right to freedom and statehood.

They also highlighted their countries' ongoing efforts towards preventing the Israeli land theft plan and warned against its risks to regional security and stability.

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