United Nations, New York – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a compelling address to the United Nations General Assembly, focusing on the urgent humanitarian crisis and political future of the Gaza Strip. His message underscored the Palestinian Authority’s long-standing demands for an immediate end to hostilities, unhindered humanitarian access, and a definitive path towards a two-state solution.
Speaking before the global body, President Abbas detailed the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on the civilian population in Gaza, emphasizing the critical need for international protection and a robust humanitarian response. He reiterated his rejection of any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land, asserting that such actions violate international law and undermine prospects for peace.
“Our people in Gaza are enduring an unimaginable catastrophe, facing starvation, displacement, and constant threat,” President Abbas stated. “The international community has a moral and legal obligation to intervene, to ensure the immediate cessation of aggression, and to provide comprehensive humanitarian aid without delay. We cannot stand by while a generation is lost.”
A central theme of Abbas’s speech was the imperative of a two-state solution, based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state. He stressed that the Palestinian Authority remains committed to a peaceful resolution, but warned that continued Israeli occupation and settlement expansion jeopardize any viable path to lasting peace and security in the region.
Call for International Action and Accountability
President Abbas called for renewed international efforts to hold all parties accountable to international law and UN resolutions. He urged the Security Council to take decisive action to enforce a permanent ceasefire and to establish a mechanism for the reconstruction of Gaza, linking it inextricably to a broader political horizon.
“There can be no peace without justice, and no stability without the full realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and statehood,” Abbas declared. “The current situation in Gaza is a direct result of decades of unresolved conflict and a failure to implement international resolutions. The time for empty promises is over; the time for concrete action is now.”
The Palestinian leader also touched upon the role of the Palestinian Authority in a post-conflict Gaza, asserting that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian state and must not be separated from the West Bank. He outlined the PA’s readiness to assume its responsibilities in a unified Palestinian framework, provided there is a clear political pathway towards ending the occupation and achieving independence.
Abbas’s address comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the multifaceted crisis in the Middle East, with many nations calling for an urgent de-escalation of violence and a renewed focus on a political solution that ensures security and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis.
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