Gaza reaction to Palestinian state bid

Ahead of Abbas’ speech, the militant group Hamas said Palestinians should liberate their land and not beg for recognition at the UN.

Nevertheless after watching the speech from Gaza, where Hamas are in control, spokesman Sami Abu Zouhri did have some positive things to say.

“Abbas’ speech was an emotional speech, he managed to show the suffering of the Palestinian people but he didn’t succeed in finding a specific way of arriving at a solution, as he made a link between this demand for recognition and a return to negotiations,” said Abu Zouhri.

There was great interest in the speech in Gaza, one of the territories that would be included in the proposed Palestinian state. Some of those watching were clearly emotional.

“I’m 86 years old,” said one man, “I dream of one day before I die, seeing the Palestinian flag fly over Jerusalem.”

Another man said, “I’m in agreement with everything the president said, because he wants to make the aspirations of the Palestinian people happen, to live in an independent state and he’s thinking of the future generations of Palestinians and Israelis.”

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