By Palestine Chronicle Staff
Palestinian leaders expressed their condolences to French President Francois Hollande and the French people on Friday, following an attack Thursday night in Nice, France, that left at least 84 people killed, including children, and at least 100 injured when a lorry was driven into crowds during Bastille Day celebrations.
Palestinian news agency WAFA, reported that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and other members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared their support and solidarity with the French people and families of the victims, while condemning the attack which international media have labelled a “terrorist attack”.
In a statement issued on Friday, Hamas also expressed solidarity with families of the dead and injured, saying they reject all forms of extremism and terrorism.
Muslim, Arab leaders condemn Nice attack https://t.co/1GjFDvnglq #NiceAttack
— Oneindia.com (@Oneindia) July 15, 2016
Spokesperson of the Palestinian government, Youssef al-Mahmoud, also joined Abbas in condemning the attack, calling it “brutal and cowardly”.
Al-Mahmoud also called for international unity that can support values of peace, while concentrating on ending violence and hatred.
PLO Secretary General, Dr. Saeb Erekat, also condemned the attacks in a statement released Friday, stating, “Palestine firmly stands in solidarity with France in this painful time; we extend our sympathies and condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery for those injured.”
This new footage has emerged from the #NiceAttack last night https://t.co/bALTwh1Sdz
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 15, 2016
Meanwhile, Fatah’s spokesman for European Affairs, Jamal Nazzal, condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms”, stating, “our people, who have endured all forms of state terrorism at the hand of a violent foreign occupation for decades now, feel the pain of the French people as they stand firm in the face of the sinister forces of evil which must be fought.”
“It is time for unity, not only in France, but in the world at large, in order to fight all forms of oppressive authorities and in particular those who try to dominate over other people’s lives,” Nazzal said, adding that he “strongly believes that terrorist groups can benefit from the violence Israel is committing against Palestinians to brainwash and recruit potential terrorists throughout the world.”
He concluded, “We count on France’s role in the world to fight for freedom and justice as we believe it will overcome these hard circumstances.”
(Palestine Chronicle)
