Interview: Palestinian Communist Youth Union:"The struggle can only succeed through our collective unity against the bourgeoisie of each country"

“Odigitis” was in Havana, Cuba, at the 1st “Granma”–“Rebelde” Festival, organised by the newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba and the magazine of the Young Communist League, which this year celebrate their 60th anniversary. Cuba demonstrates its solidarity with the Palestinian people, who are facing genocide by the murderous state of Israel, in various ways — among them by offering scholarships to young Palestinians. There, we met and spoke with comrade Ehab Al-msari, a member of the Executive Secretariat and of the International Relations Committee of the Palestinian Communist Youth Union.

"Odigitis": What is the situation in Gaza and the West Bank after the so-called ceasefire?

Ehab Al-msari: The current situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, and in the region as a whole, can be described as extremely critical. It requires the highest level of vigilance and preparedness for what comes next. It would be a serious mistake to separate the current events from their historical context, just as it would be to cut Gaza and the West Bank off from their regional environment. Regional tensions are at their peak and play a decisive role in what is happening currently and in what is to come. The murderous state of Israel continues its crimes in Syria and Lebanon.

Similarly, in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army continues to commit massacres against the Palestinian people. The airstrikes on the night of October 29 killed 104 Palestinians, including 35 children, proving once again the betrayal of this criminal enemy and revealing that the so-called "American guarantees" are nothing more than ink on paper.

As far as the West Bank is concerned, the process of settlement expansion and displacement of the population is progressing at full speed. Following the vote to annex the West Bank and impose full sovereignty over it in July by Israel's Knesset, the Zionist fascist army launched a systematic campaign of forced displacement of Palestinian residents, demolishing their homes and expanding settlement zones. Today, the murderous state of Israel controls more than 80% of the land of the West Bank, and in addition loots underground water resources, while political arrests, on-the-spot executions of militants, etc. continue.

These events are developing within the framework of the imperialist plans of the USA, NATO and the EU, where the murderous state of Israel acts as their spearhead in the region. Thus, Israel attacks the peoples of the region, while at the same time preventing any attempt by the peoples to free themselves from the imperialist shackles and take matters into their own hands.

A ceasefire is, formally, a welcome step, but it does not eliminate the continuing dangers that threaten the Palestinian people and the entire region. Therefore, we consider it our duty to always raise our voices when imperialism, as usual, tries to deceive the masses by announcing a ceasefire that never actually follows in practice.

"O": In what ways is your Organization trying to develop its activity in these difficult conditions of war?

E.A.: From the very first hours of the attack on the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Communist Party and the Palestinian Communist Youth Union called on all their members and cadres to resist the occupation by every possible and available means.

Our comrades in Gaza quickly organized to work in the areas where they could be most useful. Some fellow doctors and nurses joined Gaza's hospitals, while others participated in humanitarian aid operations, distributing water, food and financial aid to the affected families. Our comrades played a crucial role in the resilience of Northern Gaza during the siege and systematic starvation campaign. They remained steadfast, continuing for example to offer their medical services at the Indonesian Hospital and the Kamal Adwan Hospital.

One of our comrades, Dr. Mohammad Zaher, was surrounded and arrested at the Kamal Adwan hospital. He suffered almost four months of imprisonment, torture and beatings. However, just a few hours after his release, he returned to his medical duties, offering assistance to the wounded.

Of course, our Organization and our Party face serious material difficulties, as we categorically reject any external aid that comes with conditions and restrictions regarding its availability or other factors, whether it comes from so-called friendly organizations or from states. Despite these challenges, we have maintained our principles and our dedication to Marxism-Leninism. Through limited fundraising campaigns, in collaboration with friendly organizations, we have been able to maintain our presence and continue to provide substantial assistance.

During the attack, several of our comrades were martyred, others were injured, arrested or remain missing. However, the steadfast and continuous action of our comrades in Gaza inspired many young people to join both the Youth and the Party.

At the same time, our comrades in other parts of Palestine worked to mobilise solidarity with Gaza, organizing campaigns to strengthen the resilience of our people in the besieged Gaza Strip. Internationally, our organization participated in the preparation and organization of hundreds of demonstrations around the world against occupation, genocide and starvation. Entire cities were paralyzed, Israeli embassies and pro-occupation offices were blocked, thanks to the revolutionary coordination between our organization and other fraternal Marxist-Leninist organizations worldwide.

Among our most important international activities are dozens of meetings with revolutionary organizations, with the aim of creating lasting joint actions, as well as educational seminars on the history and truth about the Palestinian struggle.

In the current circumstances, our Organization continues the mass, educational solidarity work, doing everything in its power to support our people and our comrades on all fronts.

"O": What impact does international solidarity have on the struggle of your organization and on the struggle of the Palestinian people?

E.A.: The recent wave of international workers' and people's solidarity, expressed by thousands of workers and young people in Greece and around the world, is a qualitative development in the struggle against imperialism and Zionism. Zionism, comrades, is an ideological weapon of death in the hands of imperialism.

This solidarity is not just a humanitarian or moral gesture; it is a political stance, an act of resistance against the imperialist system that supports the murderous state of Israel and feeds the death machine in Palestine.

In recent weeks, we have seen workers in the ports of Greece, Italy and Belgium rise up to block the transfer of weapons to Israel. At the same time, mass demonstrations broke out linking the struggle of the Palestinian people with the struggles of workers everywhere against exploitation, poverty and imperialist wars. This revolutionary workers' action confirms that the Palestinian struggle is an integral part of the global struggle against capitalism and imperialism.

The impact of this solidarity opens up new possibilities to strengthen the international front against imperialism and the murderous state of Israel. For our organization, it has provided a moral and organizational impetus, allowing us to expand our activities at the national and international levels and develop deeper coordination with revolutionary forces around the world, particularly those who understand that Palestine is not just a "national" issue, but a central front of the global class struggle.

As far as the wider struggle of the Palestinian people is concerned, this wave of solidarity has played a crucial role in exposing the criminal and colonialist nature of the murderous state of Israel before world public opinion, debunking the false narrative of so-called "self-defense". It has also strengthened the morale of the Palestinian masses, encouraging them to continue the resistance, in the knowledge that there is a global popular movement on their side, not out of pity or charity, but out of a common position in the common struggle against the imperialist-capitalist system.

"O": The struggle of the Palestinian people inspires thousands of young revolutionaries internationally. What message would you like to send to the readers of "Odigitis"?

E.A.: First of all, we extend our thanks to your magazine and our warm greetings to the dear readers.

Our message to the revolutionary youth and to all oppressed and persecuted peoples is this: every victory of any one of us, no matter how small, is a victory for all of us. The struggle against imperialism, the murderous state of Israel and its allies can only be victorious through our collective unity against the bourgeoisie of every country.

The Palestinian cause transcends national and geographical borders; it is a just cause that concerns every person who believes that justice and liberation from imperialism and oppression are possible.

The struggle is not the responsibility of the Palestinians alone. Supporting the Palestinian struggle — through constant public debate and concrete actions, such as blocking transport routes and the production of military equipment destined for the murderous state of Israel — is a clear example of international solidarity in action.

We rely on you to help us stop the crimes of imperialism and its allies and to build the broadest possible front of resistance against Zionism and imperialism.

In conclusion, we must emphasize that we shall never abandon the struggle against the occupier until the liberation and the construction of a democratic, independent and socialist Palestine.