“I thank the leaders, kings, politicians, presidents, brothers — Arab and non-Arab — who have kindly asked about me, and I am thankful to all.”

Abbas, known to be a heavy smoker, was admitted on May 20 to the Istishari Arab Hospital near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank with complications following an ear operation, including high fever. Abbas, who is a heavy smoker, was admitted on May 20 for what doctors had initially said were medical tests following ear surgery. Palestinian officials said he had pneumonia and was on a respirator, receiving antibiotics intravenously.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas leaves hospital after eight days of treatment for pneumonia.