Abbas quotes Quranic verse encouraging violent resistance in speech
“[PA] President Mahmoud Abbas has addressed our people several times since the start of the aggression against the Gaza Strip (i.e., 2014 Gaza war). Each time, he added something new to the chain of events and their rapid development in a way that served the Palestinian cause – in particular, the Gaza Strip, which sacrificed Martyrs (Shahids) on a daily basis. In his speech two days ago [Aug. 26, 2014], the President announced the end of the aggression against the Gaza Strip based on the Egyptian initiative, to which he has supported all along. Last month, he said other things suggesting that he opposes the occupation and supports the resistance of our people. Many considered the fact that he concluded his speech with the Quranic verse, ‘Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory.’ (Sura 22:39, trans. Sahih International) as a clear and open [show of] support for the resistance, and a call to [manifest] anger against the occupation. This was realized on the ground in the West Bank, which answered the President’s call and set out to confront the occupation.”