Palestinian President: We want a non-militarized Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered his address during the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly via a pre-recorded message, as he was unable to attend in person after the United States refused to issue entry visas to representatives of the State of Palestine.
Mahmoud Abbas stated that the Palestinian people are facing one of the most dangerous phases in their history, “after decades of historical injustice, displacement, occupation, and denial of their natural right to self-determination, freedom, and independence.”
He said, “Today, we warn of a greater impending threat that requires international action to halt it. The threat is no longer limited to undermining the two-state solution and preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state; it has become a threat to the very lives and existence of the Palestinian people on their homeland.”
He addressed the international community, saying, “Do not allow another Nakba and massacres like those that occurred in 1948.”
The Palestinian President expressed his welcome for President Donald Trump’s twenty-point plan (regarding Gaza), UN Security Council Resolution 2803, and the roadmap for implementing the final phase. He noted that only one year remains in the transitional period leading up to 2027.
He called for accelerating the implementation of the second phase and avoiding further delays. He said, “The transitional period must not become a permanent or open-ended status without a clear political and temporal horizon; rather, it must lead to the reunification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, under the authority of the State of Palestine and its legitimate institutions, in accordance with the principle of one state, one government, one law, and one legitimate armed force.”
On behalf of the State of Palestine, he reaffirmed commitments to ensuring security and safety for all, rejecting attacks on civilians by any party, and rejecting terrorism and extremism in all their forms.
He emphasized the commitment to combating antisemitism, racism, and hatred, and affirmed belief in a culture of peace, dialogue, and coexistence. He said, “We want a democratic Palestinian state that respects the rule of law and human rights. A non-militarized state. A non-militarized state that lives in security and peace alongside the State of Israel. Is this possible?”
It is worth noting that the General Assembly adopted a resolution allowing the State of Palestine to participate in the general debate via a pre-recorded message, after the United States refused to issue entry visas to representatives of the State of Palestine, thereby preventing the Palestinian President from attending the UN Headquarters in New York.
