The Palestinian Ministry of Culture on Wednesday mourned the death of Egypt's renowned poet Abdel Rahman al Abnoudi.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture Zeyad Abu Amr said Abnoudi's death is a big loss to Arab culture.

Abnoudi has become an iconic figure for Egypt's patriotism and a staunch defender of farmers and poor categories of people in the Arab region, he added.

Abnoudi died on Tuesday after a long illness at the age of 76. His funeral was held on Wednesday at the Suez Canal city of Ismailia.