Overview

• After a General Assembly vote allowing remote remarks, Abbas spoke by videoconference and accused Israel of a "war of genocide" in Gaza, citing more than 220,000 Palestinians killed or injured.
• Abbas repudiated Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, said the group does not represent Palestinians, and demanded that Hamas and other factions disarm with no role in Gaza’s future governance.
• He listed eight immediate steps toward de‑escalation and statehood, including a permanent end to the war, unconditional UN‑led aid access, release of all hostages, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of withheld Palestinian tax revenues.
• He proposed internal reforms to ready the Palestinian polity for sovereignty, pledging a provisional constitution, unified security services, and presidential and legislative elections within a year after the war ends.
• The address came as more than 140 UN member states recognized Palestine and UN investigators and the European Commission advanced pressure on Israel; Netanyahu is scheduled to speak Friday after vowing to denounce new recognitions.