Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, used his remote address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza as “war crimes” and to reject any notion that Palestinians would abandon their land. He emphasized that Hamas would not govern Gaza and called on the group to lay down its arms.
Appearing by video from the city of Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as the United States had denied him and his delegation visas, Mr. Abbas denounced the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. He explicitly stated that “These actions don’t represent the Palestinian people.”
He affirmed the Palestinian Authority’s readiness to take responsibility for Gaza, stating unequivocally that Hamas would have no role in governing the enclave once the war concludes. “We reiterate that we do not want an armed state,” he declared, pushing for a future free from armed conflict.
Addressing an audience largely sympathetic to his cause, Mr. Abbas’s speech highlighted themes that have dominated this year’s General Assembly. The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has been a central topic, with Palestinian statehood gaining significant traction at a recent conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
Throughout the assembly, numerous world leaders have voiced their recognition of Palestinian statehood and strongly criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has tragically resulted in 65,000 deaths and displaced over a million people. Calls for an immediate end to the suffering of Palestinians have resonated widely. In his own remarks, Mr. Abbas characterized Israel’s conduct in the territory as nothing short of “genocide.”
President Abbas extended his thanks to the countries that have recently acknowledged Palestinian statehood. He underscored that the Palestinian Authority had recognized Israel’s “right to exist” as far back as 1988 and reiterated this position in 1993. He also criticized Israeli leaders advocating for territorial expansion, asserting that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the future state of Palestine.
Amidst calls for Palestinian statehood, Israeli officials have hinted at potential annexation of parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. However, President Trump reportedly reassured leaders of Arab and Muslim-majority nations this week that he would not permit Israel to annex territory in the West Bank.
Mr. Abbas concluded by vowing that despite immense suffering, Palestinians would remain in Gaza and rebuild their land. “It will not break our will to survive,” he proclaimed. “Palestine is ours.”
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed Mr. Abbas’s speech as mere rhetoric designed to placate Western audiences. Via a post on X, Saar stated, in part, “Israel will not be deceived once again.” The Israeli prime minister’s office echoed this sentiment on social media, declaring, “The shameful capitulation of some leaders to Palestinian terror does not obligate Israel in any way. There will be no Palestinian state.”
Mahmoud Abbas has served as president of the Palestinian Authority since 2005, despite being elected for only a four-year term. His tenure has seen a consolidation of power, the sidelining of rivals, and suppression of critics by security forces, leading to widespread calls for his resignation among Palestinians, as indicated by opinion polls.
Nevertheless, this week marked significant progress for the long-sought goal of Palestinian statehood. Ten Western nations, including France, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Belgium, officially recognized Palestinian statehood, joining approximately 150 other countries that had already done so.
Both Israel and the United States opposed these recognitions, arguing they serve as a reward for Hamas. The conflict in Gaza began with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and the abduction of around 250 people. Officials in Gaza report that Israeli military operations in the enclave have since killed over 64,000 people, a figure that includes both combatants and civilians.