New York, Sept 26 (V7N) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, accusing Israel of waging a “war of genocide, destruction, starvation and displacement” in Gaza. Speaking via video link, he said more than 220,000 Palestinians had been killed or injured in nearly two years of conflict, with women, children, and the elderly making up the majority of the victims, while two million people were enduring starvation under blockade.
 
He said over 80 per cent of Gaza’s homes, schools, hospitals, churches, mosques, and essential infrastructure had been destroyed. “What Israel is carrying out is not merely an aggression, it is a war crime and a crime against humanity,” Abbas declared, calling it one of the most horrific humanitarian tragedies of the 20th and 21st centuries.
 
Turning to the West Bank, Abbas denounced expanding settlements and settler violence, describing the “Greater Israel” plan as a threat to divide the territory, isolate Jerusalem, and undermine prospects for a two-State solution. He also cited attacks on religious sites, including mosques, churches, and cemeteries in Jerusalem, Hebron, and Gaza.
 
Abbas condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, stressing that such actions “do not represent the Palestinian people nor their just struggle for freedom and independence.” He reaffirmed that Gaza remains an integral part of the Palestinian state and said the Palestinian Authority is ready to assume full governance and security responsibility there under the principle of “one state, one law and one legal security force.”
 
Outlining his vision of a “modern and democratic” Palestine, Abbas said his government seeks to prioritize the rule of law, peaceful transfer of power, respect for human rights, and the empowerment of youth and women, not armed struggle.
 
He criticized the international community for failing to implement more than 1,000 UN resolutions on Palestine, despite Palestinians recognizing Israel under the 1993 Oslo Accords and adhering to their commitments, including rejecting violence. He accused Israel of systematically undermining those agreements.
 
Welcoming the outcomes of this week’s high-level New York conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, Abbas expressed appreciation to countries that have recognized Palestine and urged others to do the same, pressing for full UN membership. He pledged to work with the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, the United Nations, and other partners to implement the newly adopted peace plan.
 
“Peace cannot be achieved if justice is not achieved, and there can be no justice if Palestine is not freed,” Abbas said. He vowed Palestinians would never relinquish their homeland or rights: “No matter how long the suffering lasts, it will not break our will to live and survive. The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high as a symbol of dignity and steadfastness.”
 
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