In a significant address to the United Nations General Assembly, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas unequivocally rejected any future governance role for Hamas, distancing himself from the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Speaking via video after being denied a U.S. visa to attend in person, Abbas emphasized that Hamas’s actions did not represent the Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom and independence. He also condemned antisemitism, asserting that solidarity with Palestine should not be conflated with anti-Jewish sentiment. Abbas’s speech, which received applause from delegates, highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling it one of the most tragic chapters of the 20th and 21st centuries. He proposed an interim committee led by the Palestinian Authority to temporarily govern Gaza, a region controlled by Hamas since 2007. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood, despite recent recognitions by several Western powers. U.S. President Donald Trump, a staunch ally of Netanyahu, has backed Israel’s stance while engaging in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron noted alignment with the U.S. on opposing annexation, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto offered 20,000 troops to support peacekeeping efforts. Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank under the Oslo Accords, faces mounting challenges as global powers debate the path to peace.