Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas received a warm and extended round of applause from world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly during a speech in which he slammed Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza, insisted his party is ready to take over security and governance of the Gaza Strip — and appealed to President Donald Trump for peace. 

And after a number of European states recognized a Palestinian state over the past week, Abbas demanded “full membership in the United Nations.” 

“It should be noted that we have already recognized Israel’s right to exist in 1988 and in 1993,” Abbas said Thursday in a virtual address. “And we still recognize this right.” 

The PA leader addressed the U.N. General Assembly virtually after the State Department refused to approve his visa to travel to the New York headquarters, citing terrorism support. 

“The terrorism of settlers increases. They burn homes and fields, they uproot trees and attack villages and attack unarmed Palestinian civilians. In fact, they killed them in broad daylight under the protection of the Israeli occupation army.” 

While he claimed Israel is waging “genocide, destruction, starvation and displacement,” he said the PA rejects the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

“These actions do not represent the Palestinian people, nor do they represent their just struggle for freedom and independence.”

Destroyed buildings in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 28, 2025. The war to eradicate Hamas has been raging since 2023. (Reuters)

“We reject confusing the solidarity to the Palestinian cause and the issue of antisemitism, which is something that we reject based on our values and principles,” Abbas went on. 

The president noted the ineffectiveness of the U.N., which frequently passes resolutions of condemnations against Israeli action that have no real effect, and expressed frustration that international peace negotiations have not ended the war in Gaza.

“More than 1,000 resolutions at the United Nations. Not one of them was implemented. There have been many efforts and many international initiatives without reaching an end to this tragic situation. The Palestinian people are living under the yoke of occupation.”