Palestine National Council (PNC) congratulated the Palestinian women and all the women of the world on the occasion of International Women's Day, calling on the relevant international institutions to show solidarity with the women of Palestine under the Israeli occupation and in the refugee camps and the diaspora.

In a statement issued on this occasion, which is on Monday, PNC said: The eighth day of March of this year comes, and the Palestinian women continues to suffer from the Israeli occupation policies, measures and terrorism that deprive them of their human, social, political and economic rights that have been guaranteed by all relevant international charters, covenants and agreements.

PNC praised the struggle of the Palestinian women, who distinguished and excelled, not only at the local level, but also at the global level, in all fields of knowledge and science, and made achievements that we are all proud of, in addition to their distinguished role in the march of the national struggle, and their great contributions and sacrifices, side by side, with the sons, brothers and companions, on the road to freedom, self-determination, return and independence, in an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

During the past year, 3 women were killed, and 128 women were arrested in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, PNC explained, there are still 40 women detained in the prisons of the Israeli occupation.

We are now preparing to hold elections that we hope will be a turning point to end the division, and turn over its black page, PNC added, we ask all forces and factions that are preparing their election lists to be just to Palestinian women, and abide by the decisions of PNC and Central Council, in appreciating and reinforcing the pioneering role of the Palestinian women, in the march of building and development where Palestinian women have always been a partner.

PNC called on the official Palestinian institutions to abide by the laws and decisions issued in favor of empowering Palestinian women, and to lift all forms of negative discrimination towards them, in order to enhance their position on all levels and roles in the institutions of the State of Palestine, and in the institutions of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

PNC also called on the international community, with its relevant institutions, to work to end the continuing injustice inflicted on Palestinian women due to the continued Israeli occupation, which imposed a painful reality for all groups of Palestinian people, including women, as they suffer arrest, murder, oppression, demolition of homes and displacement with their children, and thus they are the direct victims of these violations which exposed daily, calling for international protection for Palestinian women from the violations and crimes of the Israeli occupation, and ensuring that they enjoy all their rights to live in freedom and dignity.

PNC concluded by saluting the women of Palestine in the homeland and in the diaspora, especially the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of the martyrs, prisoners and the wounded who were patient and resilient, and totally bore the responsibility after losing the breadwinner. We highly appreciate the steadfastness of the female prisoners struggling in the prisons of the Israeli occupation.