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PALESTINIAN President Mahmoud Abbas has delivered a resolute and emotional address to the United Nations General Assembly, declaring that Palestinians "will not leave our homeland" and calling for international action to end what he described as a campaign of "genocide, destruction, starvation and displacement" by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking virtually on Thursday evening after being denied a US visa, the 89-year-old leader said: “The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies as a symbol of dignity, steadfastness and being free from the occupation.”
AP reported today that his pre-recorded speech comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to address the UN in person on Friday.
The two leaders offer starkly opposing visions of the region’s future: Abbas reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution with an independent Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza; Netanyahu’s government has flatly rejected such a proposal.
In his 20-minute speech — unusually brief by his own standards — Abbas condemned the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and emphasised that Hamas would have “no role to play in governance” of Gaza once the war ends. “Hamas will have to hand over their weapons to the Palestinian authorities,” he said, declaring his administration “ready to bear full responsibility for governance and security” in the territory.
The Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas’ Fatah faction, has not governed Gaza since 2007, when Hamas seized control following bitter clashes. While Hamas has indicated willingness to step down from power, it rejects Israeli demands to disarm, insisting on its right to armed resistance.
Meanwhile, Abbas’ administration holds limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank, where it is increasingly unpopular among Palestinians. Many see it as ineffectual and compromised, while Israel has systematically worked to weaken its influence.
Nonetheless, Abbas positioned the Palestinian Authority as the legitimate and internationally recognised alternative to Hamas, appealing to recent momentum from countries such as France, the UK, and Canada, which have formally recognised Palestinian statehood. “These recognitions have presented our people with hope for peace and an end to the conflict,” he said.
Still, he warned that symbolic gestures are not enough. “The time has come for the international community to do right by the Palestinian people... to not remain a hostage to the temperament of Israeli politics, which denies our rights and continues in their injustice, oppression and aggression.”
Abbas also described Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza as “a war crime and a crime against humanity”.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 65,000 people have been killed and 167,000 wounded since the conflict began, with women and children accounting for about half the fatalities. The war has displaced nearly the entire population, destroyed most housing and triggered famine conditions in northern Gaza.
Israel launched the campaign following Hamas’ 7 October 2023 incursion, during which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 hostages taken. Forty-eight captives remain in Gaza, with Israel believing around 20 are still alive.
Abbas concluded with a direct appeal to Palestinians: “No matter how long the suffering continues, its results will not break our will to live and survive.”- September 26, 2025