In a compelling virtual appearance before the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas forcefully condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as ‘war crimes’ and ‘genocide,’ while unequivocally rejecting any suggestion that Palestinians would abandon their homeland. Addressing the global body remotely from Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank—a necessity after the United States denied him and his delegation visas—Abbas declared, ‘Palestine is ours. We will not leave our land. We will not leave our homeland. Our people are rooted like the olive trees.’ This defiant assertion was met with sustained applause from an audience largely sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
This year’s General Assembly has been dominated by discussions surrounding the conflict in the Gaza Strip, with Palestinian statehood taking center stage at a recent conference hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. Many world leaders have used their speeches to recognize Palestinian statehood, criticize Israel’s military campaign in Gaza which has led to widespread displacement and casualties, and call for an end to the immense suffering endured by Palestinians.
Abbas explicitly denounced the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, stating, ‘These actions don’t represent the Palestinian people.’ He articulated the Palestinian Authority’s readiness to assume full responsibility for Gaza, emphasizing that Hamas would have no role in governing the enclave after the war and calling on the group to disarm. ‘We reiterate that we do not want an armed state,’ he affirmed. He also thanked the nations that have recently recognized Palestinian statehood, reminding the assembly that his authority had recognized Israel’s ‘right to exist’ as early as 1988 and again in 1993. He further asserted that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the state of Palestine, criticizing Israeli leaders who advocate for territorial expansion.
The push for Palestinian statehood gained significant momentum this week, with ten Western countries, including France, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Belgium, formally announcing their recognition. They join approximately 150 other nations that have already done so. However, both Israel and the United States have opposed these moves, with the U.S. deeming such recognition a ‘gift to Hamas.’
Despite the U.S. visa denial, Abbas notably refrained from criticizing President Trump, signaling a potential effort to rehabilitate relations after past clashes between his administration and the previous Trump White House. Meanwhile, President Trump reportedly assured leaders of Arab and Muslim-majority nations this week that he would not permit Israel to annex territory in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This assurance comes amidst suggestions from Israeli officials that annexation could be a response to the growing international recognition of Palestinian statehood. President Emmanuel Macron of France confirmed that Trump agreed that expanding settlements in the West Bank was counterproductive and unrelated to Hamas. Annexation remains a contentious issue, widely condemned in the Arab world, as the West Bank is envisioned by Palestinian leaders and much of the global community as a core part of a future independent Palestine.
The U.S. visa denial to Abbas highlights a longstanding dispute concerning the 1947 Headquarters Agreement, which stipulates that the U.S. should not impede access to the U.N. headquarters. While the U.S. argues its right to safeguard national security interests, legal experts and the U.N. itself contend that denying entry to a head of government is a rare violation of the agreement. The only previous instance was the denial of a visa to Yasir Arafat in 1988, though he later attended U.N. gatherings.
Beyond the diplomatic tensions, the General Assembly session also saw other significant developments. The United Nations has launched an investigation into technical malfunctions that occurred during President Trump’s earlier appearance, including a teleprompter failure and an escalator stoppage. Separately, Israel’s military conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, following a Houthi drone attack on the Israeli town of Eilat. The Houthis stated these actions were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Abbas’s address underscored a strong desire for a modern, democratic Palestinian state with a peaceful transition of power. He expressed the Palestinian Authority’s readiness to collaborate with President Trump, Saudi Arabia, and France to implement the ‘New York Document,’ a peace plan aimed at establishing a two-state solution. He concluded by asserting, ‘There can be no justice if Palestine is not free.’