Abbas Says Palestinians Will Keep Fighting for Return Rights

Palestinian Authority President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas opened a meeting of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council in Ramallah on Thursday and said the Palestinian leadership will keep defending the right of return and compensation in line with UN resolutions.

In his remarks, Abbas said Palestinians must continue to focus on steadfastness, strengthening what he called peaceful popular resistance, and protecting the Palestinian national project. He said the issue of Palestinian refugees will remain at the center of that national project.

Abbas stressed that the leadership will continue to defend the "right of return and compensation" under UN Resolution 194. He also said Palestinians will keep defending and supporting the work of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

According to Abbas, UNRWA will continue operating until a "just solution" is found for the Palestinian refugee question, in keeping with what he described as legitimate international decisions.