Israeli policies threaten ‘life and existence’ of Palestinians, says Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly via pre-recorded video after the United States refused to grant him a visa. The Israeli policies, according to Abbas, pose a threat not only to the two-state solution but also to the very existence of the Palestinian people. He denounced the US for denying him a visa, calling it a punitive measure.

Abbas highlighted that the present challenges in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem are not isolated incidents but part of a deliberate colonial strategy aimed at burdening Palestinians in their homeland and forcing them into exile. The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Abbas said, is designed to divide the northern West Bank from its southern territories, isolate East Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings, and impede the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state.

The UN Trade and Development warned of Gaza's worst-ever economic crisis, triggered by a military offensive launched by Israel in response to a Hamas attack in October 2023. The conflict has led to economic hardships in the territory of two million Palestinians. Britain, France, and Canada have imposed sanctions on the West Bank due to escalating violence by extremist Israeli settlers.

Abbas urged the UN Security Council to take urgent and responsible action to address these issues. Palestinians are set to hold legislative elections on November 28, followed by the renewal of the Palestinian National Council and presidential elections. Abbas pledged to hold these elections on a fixed schedule and wrote letters to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, promising to conduct the elections despite logistical challenges.

The European Union has expressed concerns that the elections could be postponed due to difficulties in delivering voting materials to Gaza and securing Israeli visas for international observers in the West Bank.