Abbas Addresses UN Via Video After Visa Denial, Blames Israel

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN General Assembly via a pre-recorded video message for the second consecutive year, after the United States denied him and other senior Palestinian officials entry visas. In his address, Abbas blamed Israel for the current hardships faced by the Palestinian people, describing their situation as one of the most dangerous in history due to the "military occupation of the West Bank" and the war in Gaza. He asserted that Israel has "struck all vital areas of Palestinian life" and urged the international community to take more decisive action against Israel, questioning the continued silence or arms provision to Israel by some states.

Abbas highlighted the significant casualties in Gaza and the West Bank, pressing the world community on what it awaits before intervening. He reiterated his call for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing that Gaza cannot remain politically separated from the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the long term. He stated that these territories should be governed by a single state and government.

At 90 years old, Abbas has led the Palestinian Authority since 2005. Despite his administration's recognition as a state by most UN members, experts note his declining popularity due to alleged corruption and administrative failures. During the ongoing war in Gaza, Abbas and the PA have largely remained outside of negotiations concerning the region's future, with the Peace Council attempting to manage the transitional process.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded to Abbas's speech on X, formerly Twitter. One post stated, "While Abbas denigrates Israel at the UN, Israelis face a continuous wave of Palestinian terrorist attacks." Another post accused Abbas of inciting Palestinian terrorism through a "Pay-for-Slay" program, alleging the PA annually pays "hundreds of millions of dollars to terrorists and their families," with greater rewards for more bloodshed.