Israeli war on Gaza ‘genocide’

A senior Palestinian Authority official has described the Israeli regime’s atrocities during a recent war on the Gaza Strip as genocide.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a Sunday interview with an Israeli broadcaster that the word “genocide” used by President of the Palestinian National Unity Government Mahmoud Abbas during his recent address at the UN General Assembly was appropriate, saying Abbas was “naming things by their name.”

Erekat also rejected strong criticism of Abbas’ description of Israeli atrocities in Gaza at his UN speech by Washington and Tel Aviv, expressing surprise that the word genocide has angered the US government.

He went on to explain that “naming things by their name is not extreme,” underlining that it was unacceptable that using the term “genocide” had enraged the US and Israel.

“Ignoring facts doesn’t mean they don’t exist,” said the Palestinian official in response to the criticism.

He added, “In my opinion [the criticism] is inappropriate, not responsible and unacceptable.”

The development came after US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki claimed on Friday that Abbas’ speech “included offensive characterizations” that the US rejects.

This is while the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Abbas’ remarks as “inciting, slanders and lies.”

Over 2,100 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed during the latest Israeli war on Gaza in July and August, leaving more than 11,000 injured and thousands more displaced in the besieged territory.

MFB/HJL/HRB