‘Palestinians Will Not Leave,’ Abbas Tells World Leaders in Defiant Virtual UN Address

‘Palestinians Will Not Leave,’ Abbas Tells World Leaders in Defiant Virtual UN Address

In a resolute address before the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 2025, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a forceful message: his people will not abandon their homes, even amid relentless conflict and desolation in Gaza and the occupied territories. Speaking by video, after having his U.S. visa denied, he denounced Israel’s conduct, distanced his administration from Hamas, and demanded concrete steps from the international community. AP News+2The Guardian+2

The Core Message: “We Will Not Leave Our Lands”

Abbas opened his speech by acknowledging the extreme suffering in Gaza: “a war of genocide, destruction, starvation and displacement,” he said. AP News+2The Guardian+2 He asserted that despite these pressures, Palestinians will remain steadfast, insisting that “the Palestinian flag will fly high … We will not leave our homeland. We will not leave our lands.” AP News

He also made a pointed distinction: while he condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, he insisted that such violence does not represent the actions or aspirations of the Palestinian people as a whole. AP News+1

Governance, Statehood & Control of Gaza

One of the speech’s most dramatic elements: Abbas’s demand that Hamas relinquish weapons and cede political authority in Gaza. He declared that in any future government, “Hamas will have no role in governance”, and urged the militants to hand over their arms to the Palestinian Authority (PA). AP News+1 Abbas portrayed his administration as ready to assume responsibility for both governance and security in Gaza. AP News

He also called for the international community to move beyond symbolic recognition of Palestinian statehood and adopt more forceful measures. In recent days, several countries, including the UK, France, and Canada, have formally recognized a State of Palestine, a move Abbas welcomed as a “ray of hope.” AP News+1 But he said this momentum must be matched by pressure for justice, freedom from occupation, and restoration of Palestinian rights. AP News

Israel & Opposition Inside the UN

Abbas was sharply critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s posture. He accused Israel of refusing to accept Palestinian statehood and of continuing settlement expansion, especially in areas like E1 in the West Bank, that he warned threatens the viability of a future two-state solution. The Guardian+1

Israeli officials, in turn, have rejected Abbas’s vision of Palestinian governance in Gaza after the war, insisting that Israel must maintain security control. Some cabinet ministers continue to push for annexation of parts of the West Bank. AP News

Because the U.S. denied him entry to the United Nations, the General Assembly passed a resolution allowing him to speak via video. That vote passed overwhelmingly, another diplomatic victory for Abbas in the chamber. Reuters+2UN Press+2

The Stakes and Strategic Posture

Abbas used his 20-minute address to stake several political claims:

• That the PA should be seen as the legitimate governing body for all Palestinian territories, not Hamas.

• That recognition must evolve from symbolism to enforceable pressure, sanctions, diplomatic isolation, or legal mechanisms, to hold Israel accountable.

• That global support must shift from rhetoric to action, particularly in the face of what he labeled “injustice, oppression and aggression.” AP News

A Centrist View: Strength, Risk & Credibility

From a centrist perspective, Abbas’s speech carried both necessary moral clarity and real political risk.

Strengths:

• He asserted a narrative of Palestinian resilience and agency at a moment when many feel voiceless.

• By rejecting Hamas’s control publicly, he attempted to present the PA as a moderate alternative—perhaps to attract international backing and rebuild legitimacy.

• The virtual address underscored how diplomacy and symbolic recognition still matter in global governance, even under constraints.

Risks & Challenges:

• The gap between speech and reality remains vast: Israel controls much of Gaza, and PA presence there has been largely suppressed since 2007.

• Hamas, entrenched militarily and socially, may resist ceding power, undermining Abbas’s vision unless supported by force or broad consensus.

• International momentum, recognitions, resolutions, may fade unless tied to enforceable commitments (e.g., sanctions, judicial processes, third-party monitoring).

Mahmud Abbas’s virtual UN address was a bold reaffirmation of Palestinian perseverance and sovereignty. In an environment of destruction and displacement, he sought to stake out political territory: rejecting Hamas’s ongoing control, claiming legitimacy, and demanding that the world act. Yet the real test lies ahead, whether global powers convert words into binding pressure and whether Abbas’s authority can match the aspirations he voiced.