Abbas says Hamas will have no role in the Palestinian government: "We don't want an armed state."

WashingtonPalestinian Authority President Mahmmoud Abbas addressed the UN General Assembly via teleconference this Thursday. This year, Abbas has been unable to take the UN lectern due to the Trump administration's denial of visas to Palestinian diplomats. The image of Abbas speaking from his office epitomizes Washington's unconditional support for its partner, Tel Aviv, and contrasts with the massive support from many UN member states that have already recognized the Palestinian state.

As the two-year war approaches, in which more than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army, the Palestinian representative—who still holds the role of observer state within the UN—recalled how Israel—a full member state—is committing "a war crime and." Last year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"The Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have been facing genocide, destruction, hunger, and displacement," Abbas denounced at the beginning of his speech, denouncing Israel's use of "hunger as a weapon."

The Palestinian president also once again condemned the October 7 attacks by Hamas. "These actions do not represent the Palestinian people, they do not represent their struggle for freedom and independence," he stated, and assured that the Islamist group will have no role in the government created after the war. "Hamas and the other factions will have to hand over their weapons to the Palestinian Authority as part of a process to build a state with a single law and security forces," he insisted, adding: "We reiterate that we do not want an armed state."

Abbas stressed that "the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the State of Palestine" and reiterated that the Palestinian National Authority is ready to "assume full responsibility for governance and security" in the territory.

In recent weeks, the Israeli army has stepped up its offensive in the Strip, directly assaulting Gaza City and forcibly displacing its population.

In August, the Trump administration's plan for the future of the occupied Gaza Strip was leaked. Back in January, during his first meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US president said he would turn Gaza into a resort.

Israeli Settler "Terrorism"

The Palestinian Authority president spoke before the UN four days after France and other member states joined the growing list of countries recognizing the Palestinian state on Monday. A total of 156 of the 193 UN member states now support the two-state solution and recognize Palestine as such, and Abbas took the opportunity to thank all the countries that have joined.

Once again, Abbas called for an "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza and "the unconditional entry" of humanitarian aid through United Nations organizations. He also denounced the Israeli boycott of reaching a ceasefire agreement in recent months and the recent attack on Qatar, which was one of the mediators in the negotiations. "We have made every effort to build the institutions for a modern Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel, but Israel has not adhered to the signed agreements and has systematically worked to undermine them."

He also denounced the "terrorism" practiced by Israeli settlers in illegal West Bank settlements, and how they enjoy the "official support" of the State of Israel and their ongoing plans to create new illegal settlements. "The latest was the construction plan for the E1, which divided the West Bank into two parts and isolated occupied Jerusalem from its surroundings, undermining the option of a two-state solution in flagrant violation of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions," Abbas said.