🎙️ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a stark message to the UN General Assembly via video link, accusing Israel of waging "a war of genocide" in Gaza. He described the conflict as one of the gravest humanitarian tragedies of our time.
"I speak to you today after almost two years in which our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have been facing a war of genocide, destruction, starvation and displacement," Abbas said. He stressed that over 220,000 Palestinians—mostly unarmed children, women and the elderly—have been killed or injured.
Abbas also condemned Israeli settlement expansion on the West Bank, warning it endangers the two-state solution. He rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vision of a "greater Israel" and pointed to rising "terrorism of settlers."
While denouncing Israel’s actions, Abbas made clear he also "rejects what Hamas carried out on the seventh of October," adding that such attacks do not represent the Palestinian people or their fight for freedom.
Looking ahead, Abbas affirmed that the Gaza Strip "is an integral part of the State of Palestine" and that the Palestinian Authority is ready to take full responsibility for governance and security there—excluding Hamas from any governing role.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Israeli troops have advanced deeper into Gaza City as Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to block a Palestinian state before his own UN address. Since October 2023, Gaza health authorities report at least 65,419 Palestinian fatalities from Israeli strikes.
As tensions remain high, Abbas’ impassioned speech puts the spotlight on the urgent need for humanitarian relief and renewed talks toward a lasting two-state peace. 🌍✌️
Reference(s):
Abbas: Israel's Gaza war among most horrific of 20th, 21st centuries
cgtn.com
