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• I now repeat the two appeals that the Arab Higher Committee broadcast at the beginning of the present struggle, on 24 December 1947 and 10 January 1948, calling on the Palestinian people to do everything possible to protect foreign consulates, their personnel, and their buildings, so that no one harms them; no one should molest foreign nationals who are peaceful and neutral. Our noble people should, as always, avoid any disturbance to hospitals, medical and health institutions, doctors, and patients, men and women, and everyone performing humanitarian and social service. They should take care that no harm comes to vehicles of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, or Red Star, or to any medical institution.

• I am confident that our noble people will remain faithful to their pledge and traditions: not to harm children, peaceful women, the elderly, or the sick; not to attack any safe homes; and to limit themselves to repelling the attacks of the aggressive Zionists.

• Despite the inhumane acts committed by our Zionist opponents, including attacks on clergy and places of worship, destruction of hospitals and charitable institutions, and slaughter of innocent unarmed women, old men, and children, and despite their use of hospitals, churches, and educational institutions as positions from which to fire on innocent unarmed Arabs, such as the Hebrew University and Hadassah Hospital on the Mount of Olives and the Great Jewish Synagogue in Jerusalem’s Old City, we nevertheless urge our noble people to control themselves and not descend to the level to which the enemies have descended. They should hold to our higher Arab ideals and honorable inherited traditions in their jihad and struggle.

14 Jumada I 1367

25 March 1948

Mufti of Palestine

Head of the Arab Higher Committee

(signature)

*

Battles between Palestinians and Jews continued throughout Palestine for nearly six months after the partition decision of 29 November 1947, and the superiority of the Palestinian jihad movement