Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking remotely to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, delivered a strong condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, labeling them ‘war crimes.’ He also firmly rejected any suggestion that Palestinians would be forced to leave their homeland.
Addressing the assembly via video from Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, after being denied visas to the U.S., Abbas explicitly distanced the Palestinian people from the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, stating, ‘These actions don’t represent the Palestinian people.’
Abbas affirmed the Palestinian Authority’s readiness to assume governance of Gaza once the conflict ends, unequivocally stating that Hamas would have no role in its future leadership. He further urged Hamas to disarm, emphasizing, ‘We reiterate that we do not want an armed state.’
As the recognized, albeit limited, governing body in parts of the West Bank, Abbas spoke to a largely supportive international audience. The ongoing war in the Gaza Strip has been a central theme at this year’s General Assembly, with the question of Palestinian statehood gaining significant attention, notably at a recent conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
Numerous world leaders have used their platforms to acknowledge Palestinian statehood, criticize Israel’s military operations in Gaza—which have resulted in 65,000 deaths and over a million displaced individuals—and advocate for an end to Palestinian suffering. Abbas himself characterized Israel’s actions as ‘genocide.’
Expressing gratitude to the nations that recently recognized Palestinian statehood, Abbas highlighted that the Palestinian Authority had acknowledged Israel’s right to exist in both 1988 and 1993. He also voiced strong opposition to calls for territorial expansion by Israeli leaders, asserting that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of a future Palestinian state.
While some Israeli officials have hinted at annexing parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank in response to statehood recognitions, President Trump reportedly reassured leaders from Arab and Muslim-majority nations this week that he would oppose such annexation, according to sources close to the discussions.
Abbas declared that despite immense suffering, Palestinians are resolved to remain in Gaza and rebuild their land. ‘It will not break our will to survive,’ he stated emphatically. ‘Palestine is ours.’
In immediate response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar characterized Abbas’s speech as hollow rhetoric designed to placate Western nations, stating on social media, ‘Israel will not be deceived once again.’ The Israeli Prime Minister’s office echoed this sentiment, posting that the ‘shameful capitulation’ of some leaders to Palestinian actions would not bind Israel, and reiterating, ‘There will be no Palestinian state.’
Mahmoud Abbas has held the presidency of the Palestinian Authority since 2005, despite being elected for a four-year term. Critics point to his repeated delays in holding elections, consolidation of power, marginalization of political rivals, and the use of security forces against dissenters. Public opinion polls consistently indicate that a majority of Palestinians wish for his resignation.
Nevertheless, this past week marked notable progress for the long-sought goal of Palestinian statehood. Ten Western nations, including France, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Belgium, formally recognized Palestinian statehood, adding to the approximately 150 countries that had already done so.
Both Israel and the United States opposed these recognitions, arguing that such moves embolden Hamas. The conflict in Gaza began with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals. Gaza officials report that over 64,000 people have died in the enclave due to Israel’s military actions, a count that includes both combatants and civilians.
Following Abbas’s address, Hamas swiftly rejected his declaration that they would be excluded from Gaza’s post-war government. They asserted that this stance ‘infringes on our Palestinian people’s inherent right to self-determination and to choose who governs them,’ and vowed not to lay down their weapons ‘as long as the occupation continues.’
Hamas further stressed that safeguarding the Palestinian national cause requires ‘national unity and consensus’ until the ultimate goal of ‘the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital are fulfilled.’