Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his willingness to collaborate with international leaders on a peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians, which was recently proposed by France. He addressed the UN General Assembly via video, reaffirming his opposition to any governance role for Hamas in Gaza and calling for the group’s disarmament.
Abbas urged nations that have not yet recognized a Palestinian state to do so and requested that the United Nations grant full membership to Palestine. He criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, labeling the situation as one of the most severe humanitarian crises in recent history. However, he distanced himself from the actions of Hamas, which initiated an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 people. Following the attack, reports indicated that over 65,500 Palestinians have died due to Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Abbas, who was unable to attend the UN meeting in person due to visa revocations by the U.S. State Department, thanked various countries, including Canada and the UK, for recognizing Palestinian statehood amid the ongoing conflict. He endorsed the peace plan introduced by French President Emmanuel Macron, which calls for the simultaneous release of hostages held by Hamas alongside a cessation of Israeli military operations. The proposed plan suggests establishing a transitional administration, excluding Hamas, to govern Gaza and aims to achieve a “sovereign, independent, and demilitarized State of Palestine.”
While Abbas indicated his readiness to work with leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump and representatives from Saudi Arabia and France to implement this plan, it has not received backing from the U.S. or Israel. Furthermore, Abbas stressed the need for a democratic Palestinian state that adheres to international law and promotes the empowerment of women and youth. National elections are envisioned within a year of the conflict’s conclusion; the last elections were held in 2006.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdjgdnjnlgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss