Ramallah (UNA-OIC) – The funeral procession of senior Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official Saeb Erekat, who died after contacting COVID-19, set off from the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday.
The funeral procession of the PLO Executive Committee Secretary-General Saeb Erekat set off from the Istihsari Hospital in al-Rihan neighborhood and made its way to the presidential complex, al-Muqata‘a, where a memorial was held with the attendance of President Mahmoud Abbas, Premier Mohammad Shtayyeh and members of the PLO Executive Committee among others.
During the memorial, President Abbas laid a wreath over the coffin of the veteran official as the Palestinian national anthem was played. Abbas has declared three days of national mourning for Erekat, whom he called “brother”, “patriotic leader” and “great fighter who played a big role in raising the banner of Palestine high and defending the rights of our people and their national constants in all international forums.”
Following the Ramallah memorial, the funeral convoy headed to Jericho, where Erekat’s body would be carried in a procession to the city mosque for prayers before being buried in a nearby cemetery.
The funeral procession is taking place as the Palestinian people mark the 16th anniversary of the death of late President Yasser Arafat, who died in Paris on 11 November 2004 and was flown back to Ramallah for burial.
