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Israel carrying out crime against humanity in Gaza, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas tells UN
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is now addressing the floor via video link.
He says that Israel have “imposed a stifling siege on an entire people” and says that it is “not merely an aggression; it is a war crime and a crime against humanity”.
Abbas says, the West Bank, Israel continues to illegally expand its settlements. He says Palestine rejects and “completely deplores” plans for a “Greater Israel”.
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Just to return to the previous speech from Mahmoud Abbas, it is worth noting that the Palestinian president said he was ready to work with US president Donald Trump.
Abbas also said he would work with Saudi Arabia, France and the United Nations to implement a Gaza peace plan adopted at a 22 September conference, which he said could pave the way for a just peace and broader regional cooperation.
Yemen must not be left to fall prey of blackmail and terrorism, Alimi says, adding that he is asking for “international action” and “not more statements”.
And, with that, his speech has concluded.
Peace in Yemen 'must be imposed by force', says leader of PLC
Alimi says the policy of containment has given the Houthis time to expand its arsenal.
“It has become clear the peace we seek cannot be asked for but must be imposed by force,” he says.
Alimi says the Houthis are responsible for supporting “cross-border terrorism” and threatening peace nationally and internationally.
“I call on you today to form an effective international coalition to … liberate the country [of Yemen],” he says.
Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, is now addressing the floor.
He starts by saying that he wants to congratulate the Yemeni people who are tonight celebrating the birth of the republic 63 years ago.
He says the Iranian regime uses starvation as a weapon and religion as a tool, referring to Iran’s support of the Houthis.
“Peace cannot be achieved if justice cannot be achieved,” says Abbas, adding that “there can be no justice if Palestine is not freed.”
He says the time has come for the international community to “do right by” the Palestinian people.
He says the peaceful, legal and diplomatic fight for the rights of Palestine will continue.
“No matter how long the suffering lasts, it will not break our will to live and survive,” he says. “The dawn of freedom will emerge and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies.”
Abbas concludes his 20-minute speech by saying that “our people will remain rooted like the olive trees, firm as the rocks”.
The speech is over and there is widespread applause from the floor.
The Palestinian president is now thanking the nations that have recognised the state of Palestine, as well as protesters around the world who have campaigned to stop the war.
Abbas says it is not right to confuse solidarity with the Palestinian cause with antisemitism.
He says there is the need for an immediate end of the war, the entry of humanitarian aid through UN organisations and to stop using starvation as a weapon.
He calls for an end to “the terrorism of settlers” and “theft of Palestinain land and property under the headline of annexation”.
The residents of the Gaza Strip should remain on their land and it should be reconstructed, as well as the West Bank, he adds.
Abbas is now talking about how Palestine signed the Oslo Accords in 1993 and recognised the state of Israel.
“We made all our efforts to build the institutions of a modern Palestinian state that lives side-by-side in peace and security with Israel,” he says, adding that Israel has not adhered to the agreements and has “worked to undermine them”.
Abbas says he wishes to express his gratitude to those countries that have recognised or plan to recognise the state of Palestine.
“It should be noted we have already recognised Israel’s right to exist in 1988 and 1993 and we still recognise this right,” he says.
Hamas will play no rule in Palestinian governance and must disarm, says Abbas
Abbas says religious sites have not been spared from Israeli attacks, with mosques and churches being destroyed in contravention with international law.
He says he condemns the actions of Hamas on 7 October 2023. He says the group’s actions “do not represent the Palestinian people”.
He reinforces that the Gaza Strip is an “integral” part of the state of Palestine and says Hamas will play no role in future governance. They will have to hand over their weapons, he says.
“We reiterate that we do not want an armed state,” Abbas tells the floor via video link.
Israel carrying out crime against humanity in Gaza, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas tells UN
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is now addressing the floor via video link.
He says that Israel have “imposed a stifling siege on an entire people” and says that it is “not merely an aggression; it is a war crime and a crime against humanity”.
Abbas says, the West Bank, Israel continues to illegally expand its settlements. He says Palestine rejects and “completely deplores” plans for a “Greater Israel”.
Israeli forces struck the Yemeni capital Sana’a on Thursday, the South-run Al Masirah TV said.
The broadcaster did not immediately give any further details on the attack, Reuters reported.
Patrick Wintour
Yemen needs its own two-state solution, the president of its Southern Transitional Council (STC) has said, warning that there is currently no prospect of dislodging the Iran-backed Houthis from power in the north.
Speaking on the sidelines of the UN general assembly, Aidarous al-Zubaidi told the Guardian: “The best solution for Yemen and the best path to stability is the two-state solution, whether by referendum or agreement. The reality on the ground is that there are two states militarily and economically.”
Between 1967 and 1990 the Arab world’s poorest nation was divided in two, with the Yemen Arab Republic in the north and the communist People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen in the south. The two states reunited in 1990 but in 2014 Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sana’a, unleashing a catastrophic civil war that displaced more than 4.5 million people before a 2022 ceasefire.
In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched an air campaign to prevent the rebels from overrunning the country’s south, while the Houthis have used drones and missiles to attack Saudi Arabia and have targeted vessels in the Red Sea. This year hundreds of civilians were killed in a two-month US bombing campaign against the Houthis.
Yemen remains divided between north and south but is still treated as a unitary state by the international community. Zubaidi said there was no prospect of removing the Houthis through bombing alone and little hope of a political settlement.
Opening summary: Abbas to address UN via video link shortly
The Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas will address the United Nations general assembly shortly as the US weighs whether to try to stop Israeli annexation of the West Bank, despite opposing him.
The speech by the veteran 89-year-old comes as a slew of western nations recognise the state of Palestine.
Donald Trump’s administration adamantly rejected statehood and, in a highly unusual step, barred Abbas and his senior aides from traveling to New York for the gathering of world leaders.
The general assembly overwhelmingly voted to let Abbas address the world body with a video message. We will be covering his speech here.
Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to allow a Palestinian state and far-right members of his cabinet have threatened to annex the West Bank in a bid to kill any prospect of true independence. The Israeli PM will address the general assembly tomorrow.
In other developments:
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Yemen’s President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Mohammed Al-Alimi, will address the general assembly after Abbas. The Saudi-backed PLC hold power in the south of the country but the Iran-backed Houthis control much of Yemen and are now locked in conflict with Israel.
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Activists in a flotilla seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza said Wednesday that some of their boats were attacked by drones. The Global Sumud Flotilla said that “at least 13 explosions” were heard, while drones or aircraft dropped “unidentified objects” on at least 10 boats. No casualties were reported but there was damage to the vessels.
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Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is meeting Donald Trump at the White House. The Turkish president has been one of the world’s most vocal critics of Israel for its operations in Gaza. Colleagues on our US blog will be covering their talks.
