Abbas Addresses UN Via Video After US Denies Visa, Accuses Israel of Genocide

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly via video link on Thursday, after the United States denied him a visa to attend the New York meeting. Abbas denounced "illegal punitive measures" and rejected Washington's justifications for the visa denial, stating the PA "has fulfilled its obligations, carried out a broad national reform program, and maintained its commitment to international law and its rejection of violence and terrorism." He defended the PA's recourse to the UN, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court as a "peaceful and civilized choice."

Turning his attention to Israel, Abbas accused the country of waging a "genocidal war" in Gaza and attempting to forcibly expel Palestinians from their land. He condemned the expansion of settlements, house demolitions, roadblocks, and Israeli operations in the West Bank, which he termed "settler terrorism." Abbas asserted that the danger "is no longer limited to undermining the two-state solution and preventing the creation of a Palestinian state. It now threatens the very life and existence of the Palestinian people on their land."

Abbas also accused Israel of isolating and "Judaizing" Jerusalem and making Palestinian life difficult to encourage departure. Notably, he did not mention Hamas in his speech, despite having previously condemned the October 7th attack. He concluded by calling on the United States to lift sanctions against the Palestinian Authority and resume dialogue with Ramallah.