Report by Ashraf Siddiqui

2nd Palestinians Abroad Conference took off in the morning of Saturday, in Istanbul, Turkey.

First conference was held five years before in February 2017 in Istanbul also joined by record number of 6,000 overseas Palestinians from almost 50 countries around the globe.

After a short list, around 1,200 Palestinians from 50 countries including Latin America, European countries, Asian to Arab region are participating in the  2022 Conference.

Participants in conference are from all ages, both gents and ladies, from all walks of life including educationists; writers; media personalities,  professionals; business leaders; parliamentarians; artists; and think tanks.

Lebanon based artist Ahmad Qaaboud and Jordan based Shaza Shabana melodous national songs made the participants emotional and they paid tributes to the singers by standing ovation from their respective seats.

each of the over 1,000 participants carrying different unfortunate stories, gathered in Istanbul reaffirming their love and solidarity towards their motherland, to pledge continue their efforts jountly to liberate their motherland from illegal and brutal occupation of fascist invaders, to get their right to return back to their homeland and their voice be given weight by authorities in back home.

A series of  panel discussions by the experts, presenting of report by the outgoing 25 members Executive Committee on last five years of outcome and development; election of 300 members of General Body; and election of Executive Committee members by the newly elected General Body; and discussion on the future road map in achieving the ultimate goals are main features of the conference.

Among the outgoing executive Committee members include Munir Shafiq, a renowned writer served as Secretary General during 2017-2022; Hisham Mahfooz, Deputy Secretary General; Majed Alzeer, outgoing President, General Council; and Mohammad AlAnsari, Secretary, General Council.

Munir Shafiq, Hisham Mahfooz and Majed Alazeer welcomed the participants and thanked for their support and cooperation during their tenure in achieving the goals.

They affirmed their continued support and efforts in future in achieving the ultimate goal of liberating the motherland and to return back to Palestine.

Talking to www.asiantelegraphqatar.com, Majed Alzeer, outgoing head of the 250 members General Council,  Palestine Abroad, said that Palestinians Abroad forum is not a sole representative  of seven million Palestinians living away from their motherland, we are trying to bring maximum our fellow Palestinians on one platform to exert our struggle jointly strengthening all the Palestinians living back home and else where. He said we are not any political group or struggling for power against anyone, we are a platform to strengthen our ranks where ever we are.

1,200 participants will be electing 300 members for the General Council tomorrow, Saturday.

Over seven million Palestinians are living outside Palestine and spread almost in 60 countries around the globe.