However, the #US has said it can deny #visas for security, extremism & foreign policy reasons.

The #State Dept justified its decision by reiterating US & #Israel allegations that the #PA & #PLO had failed to repudiate extremism [pretty rich coming from #Netanyahu & #Trump] while pushing for "unilateral recognition" of a #PalestinianState.

Palestinian ofcls reject such allegations & say decades of US mediated talks have failed to end Israeli occupation & secure an independent state of Palestine

#Palestinian President #Abbas has begun his speech.

Abbas calls #Israel's actions a #WarCrime

"What Israel is carrying out is not merely an aggression, it is a war crime & a #CrimeAgainstHumanity that is both documented & monitored, & it will be recorded in history books & the pages of international conscious as one of the most horrific chapters of #humanitarian tragedy in the 20th & 21st centuries," Abbas said, according to a translation provided by the #UN.

#UNGA #Palestine

“Despite all what our people have suffered, we reject what #Hamas carried out on the 7th of October,” #Abbas said.

"Hamas will not have a role to play in governance. Hamas & other factions will have to hand over their weapons to the #PalestinianNationalAuthority."

'Our people will not forget', Abbas thanks countries for recognizing #PalestinianState.

#UN #UNGA

"We urge all the states that have not done so yet to recognize the State of #Palestine. We call on supporting Palestine [in] obtaining a full membership in the #UnitedNations," #Abbas said.

"We would like to thank France, the UK, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Portugal, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra & Denmark for their recognition of the State of Palestine. We would like to thank all 149 states which had previously recognized the State of Palestine.“

#UNGA

“Our people will not forget this noble position,” #Abbas said.

"We highly appreciate all the peoples & organizations around the world who #protested in support of the #rights of the #Palestinian people to #freedom & #independence, & to stop the #war, destruction & #starvation.”

“We reject confusing the solidarity with the #Palestinian cause & the issue of #antiSemitism, which is something that we reject based on our values & principles."

#UN #UNGA

#Abbas stressed the need for an immediate & permanent end to the war.

He called for:

"The entry w/o conditions of #HumanitarianAid through #UnitedNations organizations, including the #UNRWA & to stop using #starvation as a weapon."

"The release of all hostages & prisoners on both sides"

"The complete withdrawal of the occupation from the #Gaza Strip."

"To guarantee that the residents of the Gaza Strip remain on their lands w/o #displacement, & to implement a recovery & #reconstruction plan"

#Abbas also called for “Supporting our national efforts towards #reform & conducting presidential & parliamentary #elections within a year after the end of the war."

"We declare that we are ready to work w/ #US President Donald #Trump & w/the Kingdom of #SaudiArabia & #France & the #UnitedNations & all partners to implement the #peace plan that was approved in the conference held on the 22nd of September, in a way that would lead towards a just peace & regional cooperation," Abbas said.

#US special envoy #SteveWitkoff said on Wednesday #Trump had presented proposals for a #MiddleEast #peace plan to leaders from several Muslim-majority countries at this week's #UN meetings & is hopeful for a breakthrough on #Gaza in the coming days.

Trump has previously made clear he opposes a #PalestinianState.

Just last week, he said he disagreed with British Prime Minister Keir #Starmer over recognizing a #Palestinian state.

#UN #UNGA #Palestine #Abbas

After #Britain announced its plans to recognize a #PalestinianState in late July, #Trump said doing so would reward #Hamas.

"You're rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don't think they should be rewarded," he said.

On Monday, the White House repeated that Trump believes recognizing a #Palestinian state rewards Hamas.

#UN #UNGA #Palestine #Abbas

#Abbas wrapped up his address by urging fellow #Palestinians to remain strong.

"#Palestine is ours. #Jerusalem is the jewel of our heart & our eternal capital. We will not leave our homeland. We will not leave our lands," he said, according to a translation provided by the #UN.

"Our people will remain rooted like the olive trees, firm as the rocks. We will rise from under the rubble to rebuild."

#UNGA

#RashadAlAlimi, head of #Yemen's internationally-recognized presidential council, was up in person after #Abbas spoke via video.

"Our people are living one of the gravest #humanitarian crises facing #security threats that transcend our borders & spread to the region & the entire world," #alAlimi said, according to a UN provided translation.

#UN #UNGA

“The #Houthi militias are no longer a rebel group in a remote area in the country," #alAlimi continued. "Rather, the Houthi militias are #international #terrorist organization armed to the teeth with an advanced Iranian arsenal."

He asked the international community to help restore #security in #Yemen.

"Therefore, I call on you today to form an #effective international coalition to restore security & stability to Yemen.”

#UNGA

“A coalition that would rebuild the institutions of the state & would liberate the country from the clutches of the #militias & all forms of #terrorist groups,” he continued.

The address to #UNGA from #alAlimi comes 1 day after a drone attack on a hotel in Eilat, Israel's Red Sea resort city that was claimed by the #Houthi group, which controls the most populous parts of #Yemen.

The #Iran-backed group said it was its 2nd such assault on #Israel in 24 hrs. At least 20 people were injured.

The #Houthis have been launching missiles & drones thousands of kilometres north toward #Israel, in what they say are acts of solidarity with the #Palestinians.

Most of the dozens of missiles & drones launched have been intercepted or fallen short of Israeli territory.

Israel has retaliated by bombing Houthi-controlled areas of #Yemen, including the vital #Hodeidah port.

Earlier this month, the #UN voted to endorse a 7-pg declaration to advance a #TwoStateSolution for #Israel & the #Palestinians & end the war in #Gaza between Israel & #Hamas.

First, end the war

Then, establish "a transitional administrative committee" to operate in Gaza "under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority." The #PA currently exercises *limited* self-rule in the #WestBank under Israeli occupation.

Next, deploy a temporary international stabilization mission, mandated by the #UNSC.

The declaration emerged from an international conference at the #UN in July - hosted by #SaudiArabia & #France - on the decades-long conflict. The #UnitedStates & #Israel boycotted the event & have rejected the international efforts.

#Geopolitics #UNGA #TwoStateSolution #PalestinianState #Palestine #Gaza #war