Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas intensified calls for international action during a high-profile UN conference, condemning Israel's military operations in Gaza while outlining a roadmap for Palestinian governance. Speaking via video link at the Saudi-French co-chaired peace conference in New York, Abbas described Israel's actions as 'crimes' but notably distanced himself from Hamas' October 7 attack.
The veteran leader proposed a five-point plan demanding: immediate permanent ceasefire, UN-supervised humanitarian aid delivery through UNRWA, prisoner exchanges, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and international funding for reconstruction. He emphasized that the Palestinian Authority – not Hamas – should exclusively govern post-conflict Gaza and the West Bank.
'We will hold presidential and parliamentary elections within one year after the war ends,' Abbas declared, pledging to draft a provisional constitution within three months to transition from authority to statehood. The proposal comes as 139 UN member states now recognize Palestinian statehood.
Abbas' virtual participation followed a UN General Assembly vote overriding US visa restrictions. The development highlights growing global divisions over the conflict, with the Palestinian leader urging holdout nations to back full UN membership and support what he called 'the last chance for the two-state solution.'
