Paris: The International Alliance to Defend the Rights of the Palestinian People and Protect the Right of Return was announced today in the French capital Paris. The alliance was organized by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), in cooperation with the French Communist Party and the Palestine Forum Foundation.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the coalition launch was attended by members of the organization's Executive Committee Ahmed Al-Tamimi, Faisal Aranki, and Bassam Al-Salhi; President of the Palestine Forum, Munib Al-Masri; Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Hussein Hamayel; Advisor to the Governor of Jerusalem, Marouf Al-Rifai; Palestinian, Arab, and international institutions and figures; Deputy Palestinian Ambassador to France, Nadine Abu Al-Haija; and embassy staff.
Qassim Awad, Deputy Director of the Human Rights and Civil Society Department and General Coordinator of the Conference, stated that the event was the result of efforts made over the past year at the national, Arab, and international levels, marking a crucial moment in the history of the Palestinian people's struggle for self-determination. He noted that the conference was held in Paris under the auspices of the PLO and the French Communist Party, with active participation from the French left, international progressive forces, global civil societies, labor unions, academics, legal and parliamentary experts, and political parties from Europe, the Arab world, and internationally.
The founding statement articulated the objective of establishing an "International Coalition for the Defense of Palestinian Rights and the Protection of the Right of Return," describing it as a Palestinian, Arab, and international alliance rooted in the historic struggle of peoples for progress. The statement demanded the enforcement of international law, the right of peoples to self-determination, and a just and lasting peace for all nations, while condemning all forms of colonization and the subjugation of peoples.
It further criticized the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting its supremacist policies, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, which it claims pose an existential threat to the Palestinian people and regional peace. The statement called for immediate international pressure and sanctions to halt these actions.
The coalition urged all people of conscience to rise against the genocidal campaign waged by the Israeli government in Gaza, demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the lifting of the deadly blockade to facilitate humanitarian and medical aid, and accountability for war crimes before international justice.
The statement reaffirmed the Palestinian cause as a matter of national liberation and human emancipation, achievable through justice and law by ending colonization, occupation, and apartheid in the occupied territories. It stressed that a political solution grounded in international law is necessary to realize the Palestinian people's national rights and called for France and the European Union to immediately recognize the State of Palestine as part of the two-state solution.
The coalition committed to ensuring the upholding of international law and reaffirmed the Palestinian people's inalienable rights, including self-determination, the return of refugees under UN Resolution 194, and the establishment of an independent, democratic, and secular state with Jerusalem as its capital. The statement also demanded respect for the Right of Return and called for sanctions against Israel until it complies with international law.
The coalition aims to expand by involving trade unions, civil society, academic, legal, and media institutions, and elected officials worldwide, to build an effective tool for political influence. It commended the leadership of Saudi Arabia and France in convening the June 19 UN-backed international conference in New York to protect the two-state solution, advocating for justice and peace by reaffirming international law and Palestinian rights.
The statement also saluted the stances of Egypt and Jordan in rejecting the Trump administration's unilateral "peace plan," which was seen as undermining Palestinian rights. It highlighted the convergence of the "Freedom for Palestine" and "Protection of the Two-State Solution" conferences as a historic opportunity to rebalance international relations, end occupation, and restore justice.
The coalition paid tribute to the courage and dignity of the Palestinian people across different regions and acknowledged those, including in Israel, who advocate for freedom, democracy, and justice. It honored humanitarian workers, UN personnel, and journalists killed by deliberate Israeli actions and urged mass mobilization for a just peace, affirming that Palestinian unity and global solidarity are essential for liberation.
