Mahmoud Abbas used the UN stage to smear Israel with Hamas propaganda while downplaying October 7 and demanding the release of convicted terrorists.
Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas launched a bitter attack on Israel during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, repeating Hamas talking points and recycling inflated casualty figures from the terror group’s so-called “health ministry.”
Forced to appear virtually after the Trump Administration revoked visas for PA officials, Abbas accused Israel of committing “genocide, destruction, and starvation” in Gaza. He cited Hamas’ unverifiable claim that 220,000 people have been killed or injured since the war began, insisting that “the vast majority” were women, children, and elderly. Independent military experts, however, have repeatedly shown that Hamas inflates its numbers and disguises fighters as civilians to manipulate international opinion.
Abbas also attacked Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, accusing Israelis of “killing unarmed civilians in broad daylight under the protection of the army,” while conveniently ignoring the daily reality of Palestinian terror attacks targeting Jewish families.
When it came to October 7 — the day Hamas murdered 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 250 hostages — Abbas offered only a weak, formulaic condemnation. He said Hamas’ actions “do not represent the Palestinian people,” but immediately pivoted back to blaming Israel.
Incredibly, Abbas also denied that the pro-Hamas demonstrations erupting across the globe have carried antisemitic chants and threats, insisting: “We reject confusing solidarity with the Palestinian cause with the issue of antisemitism.” This, despite repeated footage of rallies where mobs screamed “Death to the Jews” and glorified Hitler.
Abbas then unveiled a nine-point plan for Gaza, demanding:
- An “immediate and unconditional” permanent ceasefire.
- The release of “all hostages and prisoners on both sides” — effectively equating innocent Israelis held in Hamas tunnels with convicted terrorists and murderers serving time in Israeli prisons.
- A PA takeover of Gaza, excluding Hamas from governance.
The plan also seeks to undo key Israeli and U.S. measures, such as the freezing of PA tax revenues that Ramallah has funneled into its notorious “pay-to-slay” program, which provides salaries to terrorists and their families.
The speech was a revealing mix of Hamas propaganda, historical amnesia, and political opportunism. Abbas used the UN platform not to chart a path to peace, but to smear Israel while excusing decades of Palestinian terror — and to demand rewards for it.
