On this International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, celebrated annually on November 29 since 1977, the World Peace Council (WPC) reaffirms its resolute support for the
struggle of a brave people for national liberation.

The Zionist occupation of Palestine is condemned worldwide, but it still finds support in the financial, military and political patronage of US imperialism and in the complicity of the European Union. Despite the growing victories of the Palestinian people and solidarity movements on all continents, we continue to face the most serious challenges to the end of occupation and colonialism, a racist project of oppression led by extremists and criminals. The World Peace Council strongly condemns this situation and calls for the dismantling of Israeli settlements established in violation of international humanitarian law in Palestinian territory, the release of more than 7,000 prisoners in Israeli prisons, the return of millions of refugees expelled from their lands throughout the ongoing Nakba (the Palestinian catastrophe), the demolition of the wall of shame and the withdrawal of Israeli military check points and bases from Palestine. As stated in
our Final Declaration at the World Peace Assembly in November and in many other WPC documents, this day is not only a symbol of the international admission of this unfulfilled promise. May this day and the following days bring the generalized recognition of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State, a full member of the UN, with the pre-June 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital. We do not back away from the struggle for a free Palestine! Down with the Zionist occupation and colonialism, long live the Palestinian people!

Socorro Gomes President of the World Peace Council November 29, 2016