Abbas accuses Israel of waging ‘genocidal war’ in Gaza, in pre-recorded UN address

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday warned that the Palestinian people were facing “one of the most dangerous phases in their history” in a speech at the United Nations recorded in advance as the Palestinian delegation was denied US visas by Washington.Addressing the UN General Assembly’s annual debate, Abbas accused Israel of waging a “genocidal war” in Gaza and “fragmenting” the occupied West Bank through the expansion of settlements, warning that “settler terrorism” was on the rise.Israel has rejected accusations that it is committing genocide in Gaza.Abbas went on to say that Israel’s actions no longer only posed a threat to the two-state solution but that the lives and very existence of the Palestinian people in their homeland were under threat.The Palestinian president, 90, also called for the implementation of the peace plan for Gaza unveiled by the US last year.As it was last year, Abbas’ speech was pre-recorded and shown at the general debate on video as the Palestinian delegation was denied entry to the US to attend the meeting of world leaders.Abbas accused the US of breaching its obligations as the host country and reaffirmed plans to hold legislative elections on ⁠November 28. It would be the first such vote in 20 years despite serious domestic doubts it will go ahead as Abbas seeks to advance internationally backed reforms.