Ramallah: Palestinians today marked the 21st anniversary of the death of Yasser Arafat, the first president of Palestine and chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Arafat's death anniversary comes amid ongoing conflict, characterized by intense violence and aggression. The Israeli military operations continue with killings, raids, and displacements occurring almost daily in Palestinian territories. The situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire, with 69,176 fatalities and 170,690 injuries reported, alongside worsening humanitarian conditions.
Yasser Arafat, who passed away on November 11, 2004, in a French hospital, had been flown there after a sudden illness following an Israeli military siege on his headquarters in Ramallah. Born on August 4, 1929, in Jerusalem, Arafat played a significant role in Palestinian politics. He was educated in Cairo and served as a reservist officer in the Egyptian army during the 1956 conflict against Egypt.
Arafat's political journey began with his involvement in the Palestinian national movement and his presidency of the Palestine Student Union. He was instrumental in founding the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) in the 1950s and was elected chairman of the PLO's Executive Committee in 1969.
In 1974, Arafat addressed the UN General Assembly, symbolically offering an olive branch while asserting Palestinian rights. He led Palestinian forces during the 1982 Israeli siege of Beirut and, following his departure to Tunisia, continued advocating for Palestinian statehood.
His leadership during the first Intifada in 1987 and the subsequent Declaration of Independence in 1988 marked significant milestones. Despite political setbacks, such as the failed Camp David negotiations in 2000, Arafat remained a steadfast symbol of Palestinian resistance.
Arafat's legacy is intertwined with the Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, which facilitated his return to Palestine and his election as president of the Palestinian National Authority in 1996. However, his leadership faced challenges, culminating in the second Intifada and his subsequent siege by Israeli forces in Ramallah.
Arafat's death in 2004 marked the end of an era for Palestinian leadership. His life and leadership continue to be commemorated by Palestinians, reflecting the ongoing struggle for their national aspirations amid a backdrop of conflict.
