Palestinian National Authority's Mahmoud Abbas targeted in ASSASSINATION attempt, leaving one of his bodyguards dead

By lauraharris // 2023-11-15

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President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has been targeted in an assassination attempt, which left one of his bodyguards dead. The assassination attempt was orchestrated by a newfound Palestinian militant organization known as the Sons of Abu Jandal. The group was named after PNA police officer Yousef Ahmed Raihan, who was known by the nom de guerre Abu Jandal. He died defending the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank during the Second Intifada in 2002. Around 24 hours before the assassination attempt, the Sons of Abu Jandal published a statement informing the public of the group's strong opposition to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and of Abbas' refusal to act, especially in the face of Palestinians in Gaza being "torn every day and every minute" by the Israeli offensive. "We announce, starting today, that the Palestinian leadership is facing a historic responsibility to declare full confrontation with the criminal occupation," said the group in the statement. "Brother Abu Mazen [Abbas] has 24 hours to produce a clear position, announcing full confrontation with the occupation, using all means, and to denounce statements made by the criminal [U.S. Secretary of State] Antony Blinken," continued the statement. The Sons of Abu Jandal also demanded that Abbas declare that he has no authority over the West Bank and to resign as head of the Palestinian Security Services. (Related: Hamas leaders preparing for “permanent war” with Israel.) Abbas' refusal to submit to the ultimatum led to the assassination attempt on Nov. 7, which led to a short gunfight in the streets of the West Bank that led to the death of one of Abbas' bodyguards. The PNA president, who has refused to endorse Hamas, survived the attack.

Protests and violence erupt in Ramallah as Blinken met with Abbas

Popular Palestinian sentiment against Abbas deteriorated following Blinken's visit to the West Bank a day before the incident. Blinken used his visit to stress the importance of Palestinians having a voice in Gaza's post-conflict future and reassured Abbas that the administration of President Joe Biden is committed to aiding civilians in Gaza. But most residents of the West Bank were not convinced by this rhetoric, and thousands of them took to the streets in protest against U.S. support for Israel's actions, with demonstrators waving placards and showing fake dripping blood, accusing Blinken of having blood on his hands for America's role in facilitating Israel's Gaza offensive. The meeting between Blinken and Abbas in the West Bank coincided with a deadly airstrike on two Gaza refugee camps by Israeli planes, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 53 lives, including eight children. The strikes came as the Israeli Defense Forces, on the other hand, announced the successful division of the Gaza Strip in half, anticipating an intensified assault on northern Hamas sites. Learn more about the ongoing invasion of Gaza and the genocide of the Palestinian people at WWIII.news. Watch this video from "Southfront Press" discussing the very costly gains Israel is making in its invasion of Gaza. This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

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Protests and violence erupt in Ramallah as Blinken met with Abbas

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