Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA) addressed world leaders on Thursday, September 25th, insisting that Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza after the ongoing conflict with Israel.
The West Bank leader emphasized that the October 7th Hamas-led violence does not represent the Palestinian people, stating that the PA rejects the incursion and that, in future, Hamas
will have no role to play in governance.
Abbas added that the terrorist group must hand over all weapons to the PA, which he claimed is
ready to bear full responsibility for governance and security.
Abbas spoke via videolink to the UN General Assembly because his U.S. visa had been revoked. Last month, the Trump administration revoked visas for PA and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officials, citing their role in undermining Gaza peace talks and hardening Hamas’ stance on Israeli hostages.
The October 7th pogrom claimed around 1,200 lives, mostly civilians, also taking 251 hostages to Gaza—48 of whom remain captive.
Abbas welcomed recent recognition of Palestinian statehood by France, the UK, and Canada, saying it offers hope for peace, but he urged further international action:
The time has come for the international community to do right by the Palestinian people.
Abbas leads the Fatah-run PA, which retains partial control over the West Bank. After a failed power-sharing deal, Hamas seized de facto control of Gaza in 2007, effectively dividing the Palestinian territories.
Despite the Brussels-funded PA’s hostility to Hamas, it is not to be trusted. No amount of “reforming” will alter its anti-Israeli, anti-Jewish core.
