PFLP mourns loss of Comrade Omar Quteish

The following is a statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine:

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine mourns the loss of Comrade Omar Quteish (Abu al-Abed), member of the Political Bureau of the PFLP, an official of the branch of the Front outside Palestine and a member of the Palestinian National Council, who died on Friday evening, March 19, 2010. The Front salutes Comrade Quteish's many years of dedicated service to his people and his cause, and pledges to continue to struggle to match his principles, commitment, passion and valor.

Comrade Quteish was born in Nahr el-Bared refugee camp in Lebanon in 1949. He was a dedicated fighter for the Palestinian revolution, a military leader of the Popular Front and an advocate for the children of the Palestinian refugee camps. He is the former editor of Al-Hadaf Magazine, the journal of the PFLP, and previously led the Central Information Department of the Front; he was also a member of the Union of Arab Writers.

From his earliest days, he struggled and led within the Front, taking on leadership duties in a broad array of fields, including military and cultural work. He was a man of clarity, vision and strength who never wavered in his fundamental dedication to the Palestinian revolution and the full achievement of all of the national rights of the Palestinian people, whose eyes always were directed toward return and liberation. He was one with the popular classes of the Palestinian and Arab people, and always stood with the most oppressed and marginalized sectors of our people to fight for the full liberation of our land, our people and our world.

Condolences are pouring in from popular organizations, from members and branches of the PFLP everywhere they are, saluting Comrade Quteish's long years of service and expressing this great loss to the Political Bureau, Central Committee and all members of the Front. These condolences express one message repeatedly - that Comrade Omar Quteish will remain in death as he was in life, a leader and an example to us all, who fought until his last breath for the total liberation of Palestine and its people.

A mass funeral took place for Comrade Quteish in Al-Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, Syria, with a march through the streets of the camp led by a procession of cars carrying a large portrait of the comrade, flags of Palestine and PFLP banners. His body was taken to Waseem Mosque and then to the martyrs' cemetery, where he was laid to rest alongside his comrades and brothers, fellow martyrs of Palestine, amid a large crowd of comrades, colleagues and friends, representatives of the National and Islamic forces and leaders of the PFLP, carrying his photo, garlands of roses, flags and banners.

Comrade Abu Ali Hassan, member of the Political Bureau of the PFLP, delivered a memorial speech honoring comrade Quteish, speaking of his uninterrupted commitment to the struggle and his over forty years of life in the forefront of the national struggle, his commitment to the liberation of all of Palestine, and his abiding commitment to the path of struggle and the Palestinian revolution. He discussed his history and biography, from his life as a fighter in southern Lebanon, a military leader, a political leader and a writer and media activist.

He recalled Comrade Quteish's talent for combining popular aphorisms and sayings of the Palestinian people with sharp and incisive political analysis, a representation of the popular heritage and political commitment of Palestine and a symbol of steadfastness and Palestinian identity. He pledged to continue his struggle for freedom, justice and liberation, that all of Palestine, from the river to the sea, will be liberated.

The leadership of the PFLP will continue to receive condolences in the courtyard of al-Waseem Mosque in Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus until Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

The Front in Gaza sent its warmest condolences to the external branch and the entire Front and announced that it would also be receiving condolences in its Gaza City office on March 22, 2010.

Comrades in Yemen and Algeria, Lebanon and Syria sent messages honoring Comrade Quteish, pledging to continue in his beloved spirit and path, who struggled until his last moment, to learn from and emulate his revolutionary example and to liberate Palestine. Al-Hadaf magazine, of which Comrade Quteish had served as editor-in-chief, published a tribute to his gentleness, leadership and commitment to struggle, and the depth of his vision as a freedom fighter. The Military Commission of the PFLP sent its deepest condolences, recalling his achievements in all aspects of the Front and the Palestinian revolution, military, political and cultural, saying that he spent his life in the Front as a working-class leader, fiercely dedicated to the return and liberation of Palestine, who spared no effort in supporting the resistance as the only way to achieve the goals of our people.