Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly, warning of the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and condemning Israel's expansionist ambitions. He called for immediate international intervention to halt the ongoing war, which he described as a campaign of genocide, destruction, starvation, and displacement affecting civilians across the region.

Since October 2023, more than 220,000 Palestinians, mostly women, children, and the elderly, have suffered injuries or death in Gaza. Abbas highlighted the scale of devastation, noting that over 80 percent of the territory's infrastructure has been destroyed and millions are living without sufficient food, water, or medical care.

The Palestinian leader strongly criticized Israeli settlement projects in the West Bank, particularly the E1 development, arguing that such initiatives make the two-state solution impossible. He condemned settlers' violent actions, including home burnings, attacks on villages, and killings of unarmed civilians under military protection, labeling these acts as violations of international law.

Abbas also addressed recent statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advocating for a "Greater Israel," describing them as a grave escalation. While condemning Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, he stressed that these violent acts do not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate pursuit of freedom and statehood.

Reaffirming Palestinian sovereignty, Abbas declared Gaza an integral part of the Palestinian state and insisted that the Palestinian Authority is ready to assume full governance and security responsibilities. He urged Hamas and other factions to relinquish weapons, establishing a unified government under one legal framework.

Finally, Abbas expressed gratitude to nations like Saudi Arabia, France, the UK, Canada, Australia, Belgium, and Portugal for diplomatic support. He emphasized the need for unimpeded humanitarian aid, prisoner releases, an end to occupation, and nationwide Palestinian elections. "We seek freedom, security, and peace within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as our eternal capital," he declared.
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