Palestine president Mahmoud Abbas at UNGA — What he said on Israeli settlements, US visa ban and elections

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, dominated the agenda at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on September 22-28, 2026, as he addressed the assembly alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. During his speech, Netanyahu vehemently denied allegations of genocide in Gaza, attributing them to false claims by various world leaders and groups.

He stated that Hamas used Palestinian civilians as human shields and used institutions such as hospitals, schools, and mosques as terrorist command posts. Netanyahu alleged that Hamas sold much of the food let into Gaza and challenged the notion of Israel being a genocidal regime, pointing out the contradictory examples of Israel's humanitarian aid and polio vaccinations for the enemy.

Netanyahu also addressed New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani, one of the individuals spreading the false narrative of genocide. He accused Mamdani's "Hamas buddies" of plotting the same genocide had Israel not intervened. Prior to his address at UNGA, Netanyahu faced a protest outside the building, with some demonstrators being arrested by police.

On the other hand, Palestinian President Abbas called for nations to support the two-state solution for a democratic Palestinian state coexisting peacefully with Israel. He emphasized the need to protect Palestinian lands, prevent displacement of Palestinians, renew political institutions, and establish a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Abbas also stressed the importance of ending the Israeli occupation for negotiations towards security and peace, in alignment with international law and self-determination.