Following the June 6 invasion of Israel into Lebanon Arafat leaves Beirut by boat for Tunis; before departure, holds press conference saying 5,000 were killed and 48,000 wounded during Israeli invasion. Further responding to Sharon’s statement that the departure of the PLO from Lebanon will clear the way for Israel to a "settlement" with "moderate West Bank Palestinians", Arafat reiterates that the PLO is the embodiment of Palestinian aspirations and that the Israeli invasion has only strengthen the Palestinian people’s will to struggle and resistance.