Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat stated on Thursday that Palestinians' steadfastness on their lands has to be eventually rewarded by freedom and independence.

Arafat made the remarks in his speech delivered by telephone to thousands of Palestinians who organized marches in the Gaza city to support him.

"Your steadfastness and sacrifice showed the Israeli occupation that Jewish settlements and walls will not last in our lands," he told the supporters.

Arafat said in the phone that if Israel seeks peace, security and coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis, it will have to acknowledge Palestinians' rights of freedom, independence and the establishment of their independent state.

"The Israeli occupation, the Jewish settlements and separation walls have no room in the Palestinian territories not near our Islamic or Christian sites," Arafat stressed.

He asserted that Palestinians will never withdraw their positions despite the daily Israeli military oppressions, reiterating Palestinians' rights to self-determination.

Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets of Gaza city on Thursday to express their support to Arafat, whom Israel has threatened to target earlier this week.

The marchers toured the streets of the city before gathering at the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in the city centre. They then headed to Arafat's headquarters on the shore of Gaza that was demolished by Israel at the beginning of the Intifada, or uprising on September 2000.

The march, which was organized by the Fatah movement, was named as "the solidarity and support festival for Arafat," during which the protesters expressed their rejection to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's recent threats against Arafat.

The marchers held banners and pictures of Arafat and chanted slogans that denounce the US unconditional support to Israel's unilateral plans and practices in the territories.

They also warned Israel from any attempt to physically target Arafat, while denouncing the Israeli assassination policy practiced against Palestinian leaders.

Source: Xinhua