Abbas Addresses UN General Assembly Remotely, Criticizes Israel and International Silence

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas delivered a pre-recorded video address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, speaking remotely after his US visa was denied for the second consecutive year. Abbas strongly criticized the international community and demanded an end to arms supplies to Israel, asking, "How much longer will you remain silent?!" He accused Israel of "genocidal war" in Gaza, causing death, destruction, starvation, and displacement, and alleged that settlement expansion and the Judaization of Jerusalem have accelerated in the West Bank. Abbas asserted that Israeli policies violate international law and undermine the two-state solution, warning of a "colonial scheme" to force Palestinians off their land and urging the UN not to allow another Nakba or massacre.

He called on the US to lift sanctions and return to dialogue, emphasizing the need for a clear political horizon, the unification of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem under the Palestinian Authority, and a single law and weapon. Abbas also condemned "violent settler attacks" on religious sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, and criticized Israeli strikes on UN facilities, which he said hinder UNRWA's ability to function. He appealed to US President Joe Biden to uphold promises made to Arab nations and prevent the expulsion and annexation of Palestinian land, also demanding the release of over $6 billion in Palestinian funds held by Israel.

Abbas warned against the E1 settlement plan, which he stated would sever the northern and southern West Bank and prevent a Palestinian state. He affirmed the Palestinian people's resolve to remain on their land and rejected displacement, settler terror, and annexation, stating, "Israelis have no right to decide for us." He expressed a desire for security and peace for all, opposition to harming civilians, and a fight against antisemitism, envisioning a demilitarized Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, living alongside Israel.

The US State Department's denial of Abbas's visa marks the second year in a row he has been unable to attend the UN General Assembly in person. The article also notes that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian received a visa after initial issues. The current UN General Assembly session is focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with leaders from France, Turkey, and Qatar issuing strong condemnations of Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank.