Overview

• In a video address to the UN General Assembly, Mahmoud Abbas thanked France, the United Kingdom and others for newly recognizing Palestine and urged all remaining countries to follow suit.
• He condemned Israel's offensive in Gaza as crimes against humanity and urged international pressure for a ceasefire and humanitarian access, citing local health authorities’ figures of more than 65,000 dead.
• Abbas said Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza and declared the Palestinian Authority ready to take full responsibility for administration and security.
• He pledged to hold elections within one year after a ceasefire and said he is prepared to work with President Trump, Saudi Arabia, France and the United Nations on a peace plan.
• Abbas delivered a pre-recorded speech after U.S. visa refusals to Palestinian officials, while Trump criticized recent recognitions as a reward to Hamas, and the General Assembly later expressed regret over the visa decision.