Palestinian President Calls for Collaborative Peace Efforts at UN

Wed Oct 22 2025 11:02:58 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a recent address via video link to the UN General Assembly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his willingness to engage with global leaders, including former President Donald Trump, to spearhead a peace plan for Israel and Palestine, amid ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking through a video link to the UN General Assembly, expressed readiness to collaborate with world leaders to implement a new peace plan for Israel and Palestine. He highlighted the refusal of Hamas to play a future role in governance and called for the disarmament of the group. Abbas condemned Israel's military actions in Gaza and urged for recognition of Palestinian statehood and support from the international community.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has stated he is committed to working with global leaders to implement a peace plan for Israel and Palestine introduced by France on Monday.

In his video address to the UN General Assembly, Abbas reiterated his rejection of future governance by Hamas in Gaza and insisted that it must disarm. He called for nations yet to recognize a Palestinian state to do so, and for the United Nations to grant it full membership.

Abbas condemned Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which he describes as one of the most horrific humanitarian tragedies of recent history, while also denouncing Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, during which approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and over 250 taken hostage.

Since that attack, Israeli military actions have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 65,502 Palestinians, with many casualties being women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas.

Unable to travel to New York for the assembly due to visa issues, Abbas thanked countries that have recognized Palestinian statehood recently following a wave of declarations, starting with Canada, Australia, the UK, and Portugal early in the week. France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and others have since joined this recognition.

Abbas endorsed the French President Emmanuel Macron's peace plan, which calls for the simultaneous release of hostages held by Hamas and an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza. This plan also suggests forming a transitional administration that includes the Palestinian Authority, but excludes Hamas, to govern Gaza, ultimately leading to a sovereign, independent, and demilitarized Palestinian state.

While Abbas expressed readiness to collaborate with figures like Trump, Saudi Arabia, France, and international partners on the peace initiative, he noted that neither the United States nor Israel currently supports this plan.

The Palestinian president emphasized the need for national reforms including holding presidential and parliamentary elections within a year after the end of the war. Abbas envisions a democratic state that upholds international law, promotes pluralism, and empowers women and youth.

The last Palestinian elections took place in 2006, which were won by Hamas, leading to a violent split with Abbas's Fatah faction, which now governs parts of the West Bank.