Abbas presses for Palestinian statehood at U.N., pledges Gaza governance under PA

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly virtually on Thursday, receiving a prolonged round of applause from world leaders as he leveled accusations of genocide against Israel over its Gaza campaign and pitched a path for Palestinian statehood under his party's governance. Abbas called for international support for a peace framework and said the PA is ready to bear full responsibility for governance and security in the Gaza Strip, reversing the current arrangement in which Hamas holds de facto control there.

The remarks came as a number of European states moved to recognize a Palestinian state in the past week, and Abbas demanded full membership in the United Nations. He also reaffirmed that Israel has a right to exist, saying, "We recognize this right," even as he framed Palestine as an enduring national project. Abbas spoke during a virtual address after the State Department said it would not approve a visa for him to travel to New York, citing concerns about support for terrorism.

Under Abbas's plan, he said Hamas would be sidelined from governance in Gaza and would have to hand over its weapons to the PA. He insisted the Palestinian Authority does not seek to rule an armed state and envisions a modern civilian state that upholds the rule of law, human rights, and development in education and technology rather than war and conflict. Jerusalem, he added, remains the eternal capital of the Palestinian people, a line that has been repeated in Palestinian diplomacy for decades.

"The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies as a symbol of dignity, steadfastness and being free from the yoke of occupation," Abbas said. "Palestine is ours. Jerusalem is the jewel of our hearts and our eternal capital. We will not leave our homeland. We will not leave our lands." He also asserted that his political movement is prepared to assume responsibility for security and governance in Gaza, and he stressed that Hamas would not be allowed to maintain weapons or a parallel state structure.

The speech touched on broader regional dynamics, including a recently announced peace framework promoted by then-President Donald Trump and interests from regional partners. Abbas said he was ready to work with Trump, Saudi Arabia, France, the United Nations, and other partners to implement a peace plan that would lead to a two-state solution, a goal the U.N. General Assembly signaled support for in a separate resolution. He criticized what he described as the Israeli plan for a "Greater Israel" and rejected policies linked to occupation and expansion in the West Bank.

Netanyahu’s office did not offer a public comment on Abbas’s remarks. Israeli officials have periodically condemned various Palestinian diplomatic moves and, at times, pushed back against foreign recognition of a Palestinian state. In recent days, Israel has validated security operations in Gaza and signaled that annexation of parts of the West Bank remains on the table as the war against Hamas continues. Abbas denounced settler violence in the West Bank, saying that settlers have attacked Palestinian villages, burned homes and fields, and killed civilians in broad daylight under the protection of occupation forces.

The Palestinian leader said that solidarity with the Palestinian cause should not be confused with anti-Semitism and argued that anti-Palestinian rhetoric should not be allowed to overshadow political rights. He criticized the United Nations for its perceived ineffectiveness, noting that the world body has passed more than 1,000 resolutions condemning Israeli actions that have yet to be implemented. He said the Palestinian people live under occupation and called for meaningful action to end the conflict and achieve a viable peace.

The backdrop to Abbas’s remarks is a broad pattern of violence and military operations in Gaza, where Israeli forces have intensified their offensive in Gaza City as the war with Hamas stretches into years since 2023. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced many more, fueling international debate over the best path to a durable settlement. Israel has stated that it seeks to degrade Hamas's capabilities while considering long-term security measures in areas of dispute that include the West Bank.

Over the past week, European states that have recognized Palestinian statehood have underscored the evolving diplomatic landscape surrounding Palestinian statehood, a trend Abbas framed as momentum toward a negotiated settlement that respects Palestinian rights while seeking a secure, recognized Israel. The international community remains divided on the path to peace, with some nations urging steps toward a two-state solution and others emphasizing security guarantees for Israel.

As the U.N. General Assembly contemplates proposals to advance a two-state framework, Abbas stressed that the path forward requires a credible commitment to governance, civil institutions, and the rule of law in Gaza and the West Bank alike. He signaled readiness to engage with U.S. policymakers and other international partners to advance the peace plan he described as a viable road to ending the Gaza war and achieving Palestinian statehood under civilian administration.

As the international community weighs the next steps, Abbas’s address underscored the persistent tension between calls for Palestinian sovereignty and the security concerns that have driven Israeli policy in the region for years. The conflict’s toll on civilians continues to shape diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and prospects for a durable cease-fire, even as some governments move toward formal recognition of a Palestinian state and others push for conditions that would enable negotiations toward two states living side by side in peace.

The war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas's attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has drawn in regional powers and global institutions, with the United Nations and several major powers attempting to broker terms of a settlement that would end hostilities and address Palestinian statehood and security concerns. Abbas’s remarks reflect a long-standing approach: insistence on Palestinian rights, a rejection of violence, and a demand for international recognition and accountability as prerequisites for a lasting peace.

In the days ahead, observers will watch for how the international community translates Abbas’s calls into concrete diplomatic steps, whether through renewed negotiations, recognition moves by more states, or new U.N. mechanisms designed to implement a two-state framework. For Abbas, the central premise remains clear: a viable, sovereign Palestinian state that can govern Gaza and the West Bank, with Jerusalem as its capital, is the bedrock of a durable peace in the region.