Mahmoud Abbas Warns of Further Catastrophe for Palestinians at UN General Assembly
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has voiced strong opposition to punitive measures that impede the Palestinian delegation’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking via video conference, Abbas called for the United States to withdraw these actions and for Israel to cease its measures against the Palestinian people.
“We reject the punitive measures and the prevention of our participation and presence in person at the United Nations General Assembly,” Abbas stated. He further argued that barring the Palestinian delegation conflicts with the commitments of the United States as the host nation of the UN and implored Washington to abandon these punitive steps.
Addressing the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, Abbas described the Palestinian population as facing “massacres, destruction, starvation, and attempts at displacement,” characterizing the ongoing conflict as a “genocidal war.” He also highlighted the accelerating pace of settlement expansion and settler terrorism in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Abbas condemned Israeli actions as “state terrorism based on racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing.”
The Palestinian leader warned that Tel Aviv’s actions are undermining the two-state solution and cautioned of a greater danger ahead, necessitating international intervention. “We must not allow another catastrophe and massacre against our people to occur, nor should we permit the continuation of settler violence,” Abbas declared.
He urged Washington to collaborate with Palestine and the international community to implement a two-state solution grounded in international legitimacy. Abbas posited that this solution, rather than “colonial extremism,” the creation of a “Greater Israel,” and the eradication of Palestinian existence, would guarantee peace for all. He also commented on President Donald Trump’s peace plan, stating that while initially welcomed, it has unfortunately yielded no tangible results.
Regarding the future of Gaza and the West Bank, Abbas emphasized that the transitional phase should lead to the unification of both territories under a single state with a sole legitimate authority. He criticized what he termed “continuous Israeli attacks on UN institutions,” which he believes hinder the organization’s ability to fulfill its duties.
In his concluding remarks, Abbas appealed to President Trump to uphold his promises to Arab nations regarding the prevention of forced Palestinian displacement and the annexation of Palestinian territories. He revealed that over six billion dollars of Palestinian assets have been forcibly seized by Israel and demanded their immediate release.
Abbas also sounded the alarm over the “E1” settlement plan, asserting that its implementation would sever the northern West Bank from its southern parts, thereby preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. He reiterated the Palestinian aspiration for a civilian, unarmed Palestinian state to coexist alongside an armed and “terrorist” Israeli state.
The return of Palestinian refugees and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital remain core demands, Abbas affirmed. “Our people will remain on their land and will not accept forced displacement; occupation and settlement building do not provide a solution.” He concluded by stating that Palestinians seek a state living alongside Israel, pursuing mutual peace and security for everyone. Abbas ended his address by calling for full UN membership for Palestine.
