Palestinian President Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly by video conference after the United States denied him a visa. Abbas announced that they rejected the blocking of the Palestinian delegation from attending UN meetings.
Abbas said the Palestinian people and leadership should not be punished for demanding an end to the occupation, describing recourse to international law and its institutions as a peaceful and civilized choice. He said this approach was not an act against peace.
Abbas described preventing the Palestinian delegation from entering the UN headquarters as a violation of the United States' obligations as the host country.
Statement on Gaza and the West Bank
Abbas said the Palestinian people were facing one of the most dangerous periods in their history, adding that killing, destruction, starvation and attempts at forced displacement continued in Gaza because of Israeli attacks.
Abbas alleged that the expansion of illegal settlements and attacks by Israelis who seize Palestinian land had accelerated in the West Bank under the protection of the Israeli army. He argued that Israel's actions had eliminated the two-state solution.
Calling on world leaders, Abbas urged them not to allow a new Nakba or massacre against the Palestinian people and not to permit settler violence.
Abbas called on the US administration to lift sanctions and restrictions and return to dialogue and mutual respect. He asked Washington to work with the international community to implement a two-state solution based on international legitimacy.
Emphasis on the two-state solution
Abbas said the two-state solution would bring peace for everyone and was an alternative to the concept of establishing a “Greater Israel” and eliminating the existence of the Palestinian people.
Abbas said they welcomed US President Donald Trump's peace plan but had seen no concrete development on the ground in this direction. He called on Trump to honor his promises to Arab countries to prevent the forced displacement of Palestinians and the annexation of Palestinian territories.
Abbas said the transitional period should culminate in the unification of Gaza and the West Bank under one state and one legitimate armed force, and warned against implementing Israel's illegal “E1” settlement plan.
Abbas said the E1 plan would separate the southern West Bank from its central areas. He said Israel's attacks on UN buildings in Jerusalem and the West Bank had weakened the ability of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to carry out its duties.
Withheld funds and the security of civilians
Abbas said the Israeli government had forcibly withheld more than $6 billion belonging to the Palestinian people and demanded the immediate release of those funds.
Abbas said the Palestinian people continued to remain on their land and would not accept forced displacement, emphasizing that military occupation, the expansion of illegal settlements, annexation and attacks by Israelis who seize Palestinian land could not create a lasting solution that would provide security.
Abbas said they wanted a demilitarized Palestinian state living alongside the State of Israel and sought security and peace for everyone. He announced that they rejected attacks against civilians, regardless of who carried them out, and opposed antisemitism.
Palestine's UN membership and the transitional period
Abbas said they wanted Palestinian refugees to return and an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital to be established, and called for the State of Palestine to be granted full UN membership.
Abbas said one year had passed since the UN adopted Resolution 2803 and established the Board of Peace, adding that only one year remained before the end of the transitional period. Calling for the second phase of the ceasefire to begin as soon as possible, Abbas said the transitional period should lead to the unification of Gaza and the West Bank under one state and one legitimate force.
Abbas recalled that they had previously warned at the UN General Assembly that Israel's violations were destroying the two-state solution. He said the existence of the Palestinian people had come under threat.
