This is an entry from: Israel-Palestine war: First week ends with over 2,500 Palestinians, 1,400 Israelis killed
Mahmoud Abbas: 'Palestinians have the right to defend themselves'
7 October 2023 10:53 BST
Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, said Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against "the terror of settlers and occupation forces", in his first statement since the assault began.
He also chaired an emergency leadership meeting at the PA's headquarters in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, local media said.