Abbas urges unified Palestine, ceasefire, humanitarian aid, reconstruction, condemns occupation

New York

At the 80th United Nations General Assembly, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to a two-state solution and outlined new initiatives to support Palestine and rebuild Gaza. She announced the creation of a Palestine Donor Group to ensure the future Palestinian state is economically viable and a dedicated European fund for Gaza’s reconstruction. “Gaza must be rebuilt,” von der Leyen said, emphasizing Europe’s ongoing support for the Palestinian Authority and the need to remove Hamas from power.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas stressed the importance of a unified Palestinian state under one law and a single legitimate security force. He urged Hamas and other factions to surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority, stating that only the state of Palestine is eligible to govern and ensure security in Gaza. Abbas highlighted the New York Declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly in July as a milestone toward ending the humanitarian crisis and the Israeli occupation.

Abbas called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, the release of all hostages and prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. He also stressed the urgent need for reconstruction in Gaza and the West Bank through the Cairo International Conference.

Condemning both the siege and occupation-related crimes as well as Hamas’s actions on October 7, 2023, Abbas denounced Israeli policies, including settlement expansion, annexation, and attacks on holy sites. France and Saudi Arabia co-chaired the session, during which French President Emmanuel Macron formally recognized the state of Palestine, reinforcing international support for the two-state solution.