Speaking via video link after the United States denied him a visa, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed world leaders, stating that his people oppose Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and the European Union.
During his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Abbas said that the radical group will have no role in governing the Gaza Strip once the war ends and must surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
“The dawn of freedom will come,” he told the Palestinian people.
Abbas told the UN General Assembly that Palestinians in Gaza are “facing war, genocide, destruction, starvation, and displacement” by Israel. His speech came one day before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to address the UN.
In his brief remarks, Abbas outlined his vision for a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. The two-state solution has gained support as several countries—including key U.S. allies—announced recognition of the Palestinian state this week. However, Netanyahu’s government opposes the creation of a Palestinian state.
Israeli forces control most of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has stated that Israel will maintain security control over the territory after Hamas is defeated and has rejected the idea of the Palestinian Authority having any role. Some Israeli ministers are also pushing for annexation of parts of the West Bank where Abbas’ administration currently operates.
“There can be no justice if Palestine is not free,” Abbas said.
He added that the Palestinian Authority “is ready to take full responsibility for governance and security” in Gaza, emphasizing that “Hamas will have no role in governance” and must hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
While Hamas has agreed to relinquish governance of Gaza, it has refused Israel’s demand to disarm, citing its right to resist the Israeli occupation.
Abbas described Israel’s campaign in Gaza as “not aggression, but a war crime and a crime against humanity.” Numerous international experts have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel denies these allegations and attributes civilian deaths and destruction to Hamas.
Abbas thanked world leaders for supporting Palestinians during the war, noting that recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood have given his people hope for peace and resolution of the conflict. He welcomed decisions by France, the United Kingdom, and Canada to recognize the Palestinian state and urged other countries to do the same.
However, he stressed that symbolic recognition is not sufficient to address the current crisis.
“It is time for the international community to act justly for the Palestinian people, so they can achieve their legitimate rights, end the occupation, and not remain hostages to Israeli policies that deny our rights and continue injustice, oppression, and aggression against us,” Abbas said.
During Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, nearly 1,200 people were killed in Israel and 251 were abducted. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed over 65,000 people and injured more than 167,000 others, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health—a figure considered credible by the UN.
