Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday condemned Israel for its continuous aggression against the Gaza Strip and the United States for obstructing the adoption of UN Security Council resolutions on ceasefire while addressing the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Accusing Israel of indiscriminate attacks against civilians "regardless of who they are and regardless of what side they were on," Abbas said the Israeli government "took advantage" of what happened on Oct 7 (2023) "to launch an all-out war of genocide against Gaza."
"We will not leave, we will not leave, we will not leave. Palestine is our homeland. It is the land of our fathers, our grandfathers. It will remain ours. And if anyone were to leave, it would be the occupying usurpers," Abbas said.
Responding to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim in his speech at the U.S. Congress in July that "his army did not kill innocent civilians in Gaza," Abbas asked "who is it then that killed more than 15,000 children of the 40,000, and an equal number of women and elderly persons from our people? And who is it then that is continuing to kill them? I ask you to answer me."
He said the U.S. government had "obstructed three times the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding Israel to observe a ceasefire" and had "furnished Israel with the deadly weapons that it used to kill thousands of innocent civilians, children and women. And this further encouraged Israel to continuous aggression."
"We regret that the United States obstructed three times Security Council resolutions demanding Israel to observe a ceasefire. The United States alone stood and said no. The fighting is going to continue. It did this by using the veto power and added to that it furnished Israel with the deadly weapons that it used to kill thousands of innocent civilians, children and women. And this further encouraged Israel to continuous aggression," said Abbas.
"In the eyes of the United States, we do not deserve to be a full member of the United Nations, and so it used its veto power. I do not understand how the United States can continue to deprive us of our legal right to freedom and independence," he said.
In his speech, Abbas also put forward a 12-point proposal, including the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the provision of damage compensation and reconstruction funds for Gaza residents, and the dispatch of UN peacekeeping troops to the Gaza Strip.
Abbas stressed that the conflict is not only an outrage against the Palestinian people, but also a threat to international peace and stability. He called on the United Nations to convene an international conference in an early date to advance the implementation of the two-state solution.
Palestinian leader condemns Israel, USA at UNGA
Palestinian leader condemns Israel, USA at UNGA
Palestinian leader condemns Israel, USA at UNGA
