Key facts
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned of a potential second Nakba if the international community fails to support Palestinian self-determination.
- Abbas reaffirmed that Palestinian legislative elections are scheduled for November 28, the first in two decades.
- He criticized the US for punitive measures, including a visa ban, against Palestinian officials engaging with international courts.
- Abbas described current events in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem as a colonial scheme to displace Palestinians.
- He expressed disappointment that peaceful efforts and engagement with a US peace plan have not halted Israeli actions or led to rebuilding in Gaza.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN General Assembly, warning that Palestinians could be on the verge of another Nakba, or catastrophe, if the international community does not act to support Palestinian self-determination. He criticized the United States for imposing punitive measures, including a visa ban, on Palestinian officials who have engaged with international courts.
Abbas, speaking via pre-recorded video for the second consecutive year, stated that the US actions were unlawful and rejected the justifications for them. He affirmed that the Palestinian leadership has fulfilled its obligations, undertaken reforms, and committed to international law, the two-state solution, and peace based on international legitimacy. He argued that the Palestinian people should not be punished for demanding an end to the occupation or for seeking recourse through international bodies.
While Western allies like Canada, the UK, France, and Spain have recognized the State of Palestine, Abbas noted a lack of pressure on Israel to cease settlement expansion, settler attacks, or air strikes on Gaza. He described the ongoing events in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem as a "malicious colonial scheme" designed to make Palestinian lives difficult and force them to leave their homeland.
Abbas expressed disappointment that the Palestinian Authority's peaceful approach and acceptance of a US peace plan had not led to a halt in aggression, withdrawal of Israeli forces, or rebuilding in Gaza. He confirmed that legislative elections are still scheduled for November 28, to be followed by a presidential election, marking the first elections in two decades. He also noted that only one year remains of the designated transitional period before 2027, urging against an open-ended situation without a political horizon.