Palestinian Authority President Abbas Declares 2027 Statehood Year at UN

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, addressed the UN General Assembly via video link on Thursday, after the United States denied him entry into the country. In his speech, Abbas accused Israel of committing "genocidal war" in Gaza and destroying infrastructure. He urged the U.S. administration to lift existing restrictions and cooperate on advancing the two-state solution.

Abbas also criticized Israeli policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, calling them a "colonialist plot" aimed at forcing further displacement of the Palestinian people. Surprisingly, he stated that the Palestinians accept former President Trump's plan and the roadmap for a Gaza agreement. He demanded Israel immediately release over $6 billion in withheld tax revenues.

The most dramatic part of his address set a firm timeline, declaring 2027 as the year an independent Palestinian state will be established. Abbas mentioned the upcoming legislative council elections scheduled for November 28, 2026, and pledged that official elections for the PA chairmanship would also take place in 2027 as part of comprehensive institutional reforms.

Concluding his remarks, Abbas congratulated countries that recently recognized a Palestinian state, including France, Britain, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, noting that 160 nations now support this right. The 90-year-old leader's speech highlights the PA's efforts to increase international pressure on Israel, while Israeli political circles are closely monitoring Palestinian attempts to establish facts on the ground.