On September 25, speaking online to the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a powerful speech, in which he described the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip as an unprecedented epidemic of elimination. He said Israel's actions would be recorded in human history as one of the greatest humanitarian tragedies of the 21st century.
For nearly two years, Gaza residents have faced bombs, hunger and forced relocation, according to Abbas. The number of casualties released by the Palestinian side shows more than 220,000 people have died or been injured, most of whom are women, children and the elderly who are unable to defend themselves.
In addition to the accusations against Israel, President Abbas also completely denied the role of Hamas, the armed Islamic movement that controls Gaza. He affirmed: Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, nor does it represent a legitimate struggle for freedom and independence.
The Palestinian leader stressed that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of the State of Palestine, and the Palestinian government will be ready to take full responsibility for administrative management and security in this area.
In addition to the Gaza issue, Mr. Abbas also strongly opposed Israel's plan to expand settlements in the West Bank. He warned that this action not only violates international law but also violates all opportunities for solutions from both sides, which the international community considers the most feasible way out of the decades-long conflict.
Meanwhile, the fighting situation on the ground is still tense. The Israeli military said it was expanding its operations in Gaza city. Before leaving for New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that he would prevent all efforts to establish a sovereign state of Palestine.
Observers say that Mr. Abbas's speech is not only a call for international community emergency intervention, but also shows the efforts of the Palestinian government to separate the Hamas movement from the official political process - something that many countries, especially the US and the European Union, have repeatedly emphasized.
The Israel-Hamas war has shown no signs of cooling down. The latest statements from both sides continue to show a huge political gap, making the prospect of peace in the Middle East increasingly distant.
