Abbas at the UN: A Plea Against Genocide, a Rejection of Extremism, and a Call for Statehood

In a powerful and unsparing address delivered via video link, Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, used the platform of the United Nations General Assembly to condemn what he termed a war of genocide waged against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Speaking after almost two years of intense conflict, Abbas laid bare the human cost, stating that the Israeli occupation forces have killed and injured over 220,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of whom are unarmed children, women and the elderly.

Abbas asserted that these actions will be forever etched in the pages of international conscience as one of the most horrific chapters of humanitarian tragedy in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

CONDEMNATION OF ISRAELI AND HAMAS ACTIONS

A significant portion of the speech was dedicated to unequivocal condemnation, directed both at Israel’s aggressive policies and Hamas’s actions.

The Palestinian President rejected and completely deplored Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for a greater Israel, which he claimed involves expanding into sovereign Arab States and includes a brutal attack against the sisterly State of Qatar. He also sharply criticized the escalating terrorism of settlers, detailing how they burn homes and fields, they uproot trees and attack villages, and even kill unarmed Palestinian civilians in broad daylight under the protection of the Israeli army.

Crucially, Abbas also distanced the Palestinian Authority (PA) from the events of October 7, 2023. He explicitly stated, we reject what Hamas carried out on the seventh of October, adding that the targeting and hostage taking of Israeli citizens does not represent the Palestinian people, nor their just struggle for freedom and independence.

VISION FOR POST-CONFLICT GOVERNANCE

In a direct challenge to Hamas’s future role, Abbas outlined the PA’s readiness to assume control of the Gaza Strip, reiterating that it is an integral part of the State of Palestine. He emphasized the PA is ready to bear full responsibility for governance and security there, but with the stern caveat: Hamas will not have a role to play in governance and must hand over their weapons to the national authority.

STATEHOOD AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

Abbas underscored the PA’s long-standing commitment to peace, noting the recognition of Israel’s right to exist as early as 1988 and again in 1993, paired with a commitment to rejecting violence and terrorism and adopting a culture of peace. He lamented, however, that Israel has failed to adhere to signed agreements.

The President expressed gratitude to the States that have recently recognized Palestinian statehood, acknowledging the growing international support. He also thanked global protesters, stressing the importance of not confusing the solidarity with the Palestinian cause and the issue of antisemitism, which is something that we reject.

URGENT DEMANDS AND FUTURE HOPES

The speech concluded with a comprehensive list of immediate demands:

• An immediate and permanent end to the war in Gaza.
• The entry of humanitarian aid.
• The release of all hostages and prisoners on both sides.
• The complete withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip.
• A guarantee that residents of Gaza will remain on their lands without displacement.

Abbas committed the PA to working with the United States, Saudi Arabia, France, and the UN to implement the New York Declaration. He projected a vision for the future: a modern and democratic State that abides by international law, the rule of law and multilateralism and the peaceful transition of power, even indicating a readiness to conduct elections within a year after the cessation of hostilities.

Despite the current profound suffering, Abbas closed with a defiant message of hope: No matter how much our wounds bleed, and no matter how long this suffering lasts, it will not break our will to live and survive, he declared. The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies.