Mahmoud Abbas told the UN that Hamas will not govern Gaza after the war. He urged global leaders to back Palestinian statehood and end Israeli occupation.

Abbas Outlines Postwar Vision

Addressing the UN via video after the US revoked his visa, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that Hamas will be excluded from any governing role in Gaza once the conflict ends. He insisted that the militant group must surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, which he said is prepared to assume full responsibility for governance and security.

Abbas condemned the October 7 Hamas attack, calling it unrepresentative of Palestinians, while also describing Israel’s ongoing campaign as one of “genocide, starvation, and displacement.” He stressed that symbolic recognition of Palestine — recently extended by France, the UK, and Canada — must translate into meaningful political action.

Closing his address, Abbas reaffirmed Palestinians’ determination not to abandon their homeland, declaring that “freedom’s dawn will rise” and the Palestinian flag will symbolize dignity and resilience.

Analysis Abbas’s speech signals a shift: distancing Palestinians from Hamas while pressing the international community for concrete action. For people in Gaza, this could mean the possibility of internationally supported governance rather than endless cycles of war. The challenge, however, lies in whether global powers will move beyond symbolic gestures and pressure Israel to accept a path toward justice.