Israel’s policies threaten ‘very existence’ of Palestinians, Abbas tells UN | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Abbas Urges International Action to Protect Palestinian Land and Livelihoods
United Nations General Assembly, September 24, 2026 — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday that Israel’s policies are threatening not only the viability of a two-state solution but also the very existence of the Palestinian people.
In a prerecorded message from his office in Ramallah, Abbas delivered his remarks after the United States once again denied visas to a Palestinian delegation aiming to participate in the assembly.
Abbas described the current period as one of the “most dangerous” in Palestinian history, citing widespread violence, destruction, starvation, and displacement. He asserted that Israeli military actions have resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“Israeli forces are erasing Palestinian lives,” Abbas stated, emphasizing the extensive destruction of neighborhoods, cities, refugee camps, educational institutions, and places of worship. He declared that the foundational elements of life and the futures of entire generations are being systematically targeted.
Regarding the situation in the occupied West Bank, Abbas characterized Israeli activities as a “malicious colonial plan,” accusing Israel of forcing Palestinians into displacement through ongoing settlement expansion on Palestinian land, activities that violate international law.
He called upon the international community to actively implement a two-state solution based on international law to ensure security for both peoples. “Preserving the land for the establishment of a Palestinian state and protecting its inhabitants are the first steps towards saving the solution,” Abbas said, expressing hope that Palestinians could coexist alongside Israel.
Abbas also emphasized that any transitional period should culminate in the reunification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under one Palestinian state, governed by a single legitimate armed force.
Domestically, Abbas announced plans for legislative elections on November 28, marking the first such vote in two decades, despite skepticism regarding its execution. Palestinians have not held legislative or presidential elections since 2005-2006, when Hamas assumed control of Gaza.
“We have fulfilled our commitment to the national reform program for our people and the international community,” he stated.
In related developments, Hamas accused Israel of undermining a ceasefire and hindering the US-backed Board of Peace’s efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Hamas has endorsed a 15-point roadmap that includes disarming the group and other Palestinian factions, transferring Gaza’s administration to a national committee, and facilitating a phased Israeli withdrawal.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem affirmed the group’s readiness to implement the agreed-upon roadmap, claiming that it had taken measures to comply with the deal. However, Qassem criticized Israel for failing to adhere to the ceasefire and the roadmap while escalating its military actions against Palestinians.
With the future of initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank remaining uncertain, the prospect of a two-state solution appears increasingly distant.
