UN (AP) – Speaking via video after the US rejected his visa, Palestinian leader told world leaders on Thursday that his people had refused to attack Hamas in 2023 and pledged that extremist groups would not have a role in governance. Gaza Strip After the war is over, the weapons must be handed over to his regime. Mahmoud Abbas said to his people: “The dawn of freedom comes out.”
Abbas said United Nations General Assembly Palestinians in Gaza are “facing A” The War of GenocideDestruction, starvation, displacement by Israel.” His speech came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to New York on Friday to give his own speech.
In a short but determined speech, Abbas laid out his continued vision for the Palestinian state of the West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel. The two-state solution gained traction after a series of countries were announced, including US allies. The perception of the Palestinian state This past week.
But it also appears more than ever from earthly reality. The Netanyahu government refused to create a Palestinian state.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will address the 80th session of the UN General Assembly via video at the UN headquarters on Thursday, September 25th, 2025 (AP Photo/Angelina Catanis)
He says his administration is “ready”
Israeli forces control most of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu says Israel has maintained security control over the territory after Hamas was defeated and refused to give Abbas’ Palestinian authority a role there. Some ministers of the Netanyahu government are now pushing for annexation of the occupied West Bank, where Abbas authorities now control small pockets of the territory.
“If Palestine is not released, justice is impossible,” Abbas said.
Abbas, 89, spoke for just 20 minutes. This was shorter than my previous address and I had been running for over an hour. In it, he was growing, but primarily attempting to build a symbolic recognition of the nation.
He said Palestinian authority is “ready to take full responsibility for governance and security” in Gaza. He added that “Hamas has no role to play in governance,” and that their arms must be handed over to the Palestinian authorities.
Hamas agreed to resign from Gaza’s power, but rejected Israel’s request, saying he had the right to resist Israel’s occupation.
Hamas and Abbas Fatah factions, which ruled Palestinian authority, have long been rivals. Hamas seized control of Gaza in a clash with Fatah in 2007, and multiple attempts at reconciliation and unity have failed ever since. Meanwhile, Abbas’ Palestinian authority is becoming increasingly less popular among the Palestinians, many of whom see it as an effective, corrupt and Israeli tool.
Abbas said Israeli campaign in Gaza “It’s not just an attack, it’s a war crime, a crime against humanity.”
Many experts around the world are being criticized Israel in Genocide With Gaza’s attack. Israel denied the accusations and condemn Hamas for the death and destruction of the territory.
Abbas thanked the world leaders who rose to the forefront of the Palestinians throughout the Gaza War, saying that the recent recognition of the Palestinian state had hoped for his people and a hope for a peace and an end to the conflict. He welcomed recent announcements from France, the UK and Canada, recognised them as independent nations and called on the remaining dozens of countries to do the same.
However, he added that symbolic recognition is not sufficient to deal with the present moment.
“It is time for the international community to do the right thing by the Palestinian people, so they can get the right to remove the occupation and not take the temperament of Israeli politics hostage.
Appeal of determination
Before closing, he sent a message of hope to the Palestinians, saying, no matter how long the suffering lasts, “the consequences will not break our will to survive and survive.”
Israeli campaign in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 people and injured more than 167,000 people, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. He has not said how many civilians and combatants exist, but women and children account for about half of the deaths. More than 90% of the homes in the territory have been destroyed, and most of the population of over 2 million have been evacuated, famine It has been declared in northern Gaza.
The Israeli campaign was triggered when Hamas-led militants rushed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Forty-eight prisoners remained in Gaza, of which around 20 believed to be alive by Israel.
“The dawn of freedom will appear, and the Palestinian flag will fly high in our sky as a symbol of dignity, immobility and freedom from occupation,” Abbas said. “We will not leave our hometown. We will not leave our land.”
___
Keith reported from Cairo.
