Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, delivered a powerful and emotional speech condemning Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza

At the United Nations General Assembly, Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, delivered a powerful and emotional speech condemning Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza. His address came amid heightened tensions and violence between Israel and Hamas, the militant group controlling the Gaza Strip. In his speech, Abbas denounced the Israeli military actions as brutal and inhumane, calling for immediate international intervention to protect the Palestinian people. He also insisted that Palestinians would not be driven from their land, vowing, “We will not leave,” in a resolute assertion of Palestinian determination to resist displacement.

Abbas’s speech focused on what he described as Israel’s “aggression” against the Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza, where the ongoing conflict has led to widespread destruction and significant civilian casualties. He accused Israel of committing war crimes by targeting civilians, schools, hospitals, and residential areas in its bombardments. The Palestinian leader emphasized the disproportionate nature of Israel’s military response, which, in his view, has turned Gaza into a “war zone” where innocent lives are being lost on a daily basis.

Abbas also pointed to the long-standing blockade of Gaza, which has severely restricted the movement of people and goods, contributing to the economic collapse and humanitarian crisis in the region. He framed the Israeli offensive as part of a broader campaign of oppression against the Palestinian people, one that extends beyond military actions to include illegal settlements in the West Bank and the denial of basic rights.

In his plea to the global community, Abbas urged the United Nations and world leaders to take concrete steps to end the violence and hold Israel accountable for what he described as “systematic” human rights abuses. He called for an immediate ceasefire and demanded that Israel comply with international law, including resolutions that affirm the right of Palestinians to self-determination and statehood.

The Palestinian leader also reiterated his call for international protection for the Palestinian people, asking the UN to deploy peacekeepers or other mechanisms to shield civilians from further attacks. He criticized the international community for what he perceived as a lack of decisive action, suggesting that many nations have turned a blind eye to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. Abbas’s speech highlighted the urgency of ending the bloodshed and finding a just resolution to the conflict, one that guarantees the rights of Palestinians to live in peace and security.

Perhaps the most poignant moment of Abbas’s address was his defiant declaration that the Palestinian people will not be driven from their land, despite the pressures of war, occupation, and displacement. “We will not leave,” Abbas declared, underscoring the deep connection Palestinians feel to their homeland, even in the face of immense adversity. This statement echoed the long-held Palestinian belief in the right of return for refugees displaced by conflict, a key issue in peace negotiations that has remained unresolved for decades.

Abbas’s assertion was a clear message to both Israel and the international community that Palestinians are determined to remain steadfast in their struggle for independence and sovereignty. His speech painted a picture of a people who have endured decades of occupation, war, and displacement, yet remain resolute in their desire to live on their ancestral land.

While his speech was critical of Israel and the international response to the crisis, Abbas also reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He called for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Abbas urged the UN to support this vision, emphasizing that peace can only be achieved through dialogue, negotiation, and mutual recognition of each side’s rights.

In closing, Abbas appealed to the conscience of the world, calling for justice, peace, and dignity for the Palestinian people. His speech at the UN was not just a denunciation of the current offensive in Gaza but a broader call for the international community to recognize and support the Palestinian struggle for freedom and statehood.