Our people continue to confront the impacts of the war of genocide in the Gaza Strip, and ongoing violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem
Just peace based on international legitimacy has become a regional and international necessity, and the only path to achieving it is ending the occupation completely and realizing the independence of the state of Palestine
We are witnessing growing international momentum in favor of recognizing the state of Palestine, and increasing support to end the illegal occupation
NEW YORK, November 25, 2025 (WAFA) - President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of the State of Palestine, and that its unity with the West Bank and East Jerusalem is a firm and non-negotiable right, and that all arrangements during the transitional period must be consistent with the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and with the unity and territorial integrity of their land.
In his speech on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, delivered on his behalf by the Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, Ambassador Riyad Mansour, President Abbas said that our people continue to confront the impacts of the genocide in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, under the continuation of the Israeli occupation and its policies based on settlement, expansion and annexation, and settler terrorism.
He stressed that just peace based on international legitimacy has become a regional and international necessity, and that the only way to achieve it is to end the occupation completely and realize the independence of the State of Palestine.
He continued, "We are witnessing growing international momentum in favor of recognizing the State of Palestine, and increasing support to end the illegal occupation in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and to achieve just and comprehensive peace."
Following is the speech of President Mahmoud Abbas on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Her Excellency Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly,
His Excellency Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, President of the Security Council,
His Excellency Ambassador Coly Seck, Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me first to express our gratitude to the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its important role in mobilizing international support for Palestine and its people, and for commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. I also thank the leaders from around the world who have sent messages of support and solidarity with our people and their just cause.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We gather today on this occasion, which is observed annually by the international communit, to reaffirm the global commitment to solidarity with the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination, freedom, and independence. This day comes as our people continue to confront the consequences of the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, under the continuation of the occupation and its policies of settlement, expansion, and annexation. Our people face settler terrorism, under the protection of the occupation army, resulting in grave humanitarian suffering and serious violations of human rights and international law.
While we confront these crimes, we are witnessing growing international momentum in favor of recognizing the State of Palestine and increasing support for ending the unlawful occupation in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and for achieving a just and comprehensive peace.
The efforts of the Arab-Islamic Committee, chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have laid the foundation for a broad international movement, which — together with the European Union and Norway — has formed an international coalition to implement the two-state solution. This international effort culminated in the convening of the High-level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution — at the level of foreign ministers in July, and at the level of leaders last September — co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. The UN General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration, which included irreversible steps toward an independent and sovereign State of Palestine and toward a just and comprehensive peace in the region. Alongside the conference came international recognitions of the State of Palestine and practical measures by numerous states to end the aggression against our people and the occupation of our land.
On this occasion, we highly value the recognitions by France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Andorra, and San Marino. We also express our great appreciation to the five states that had previously recognized the State of Palestine — Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, and Armenia — as well as the Caribbean States of Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas.
This brings the number of states recognizing the State of Palestine to 160, in an evident reflection of the growing international will to end the occupation and uphold justice in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions. We call on the states that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to take this courageous step which is consistent with the principles of international law. We remind you that we recognized the State of Israel in 1993.
We also thank all states and institutions that stand by our people in defense of their right to freedom and independence, including those that have taken political, legal, and practical measures to stop the genocidal war against our people in Gaza and the policies of settlement and annexation.
Here, we must express our thanks to our sisterly Algeria, in its capacity as the Arab representative on the UN Security Council, for its leading role in seeking a ceasefire. We also thank the elected and permanent members of the Security Council who supported ceasefire efforts over the past two years.
We also extend our thanks to the sisterly and friendly countries that have provided — and continue to provide — humanitarian assistance to our people in Gaza, and to the United Nations, its Secretary-General, its agencies and staff, especially UNRWA, and all humanitarian workers who risked their lives to save the Palestinian civilians.
We also value the political, financial, and technical support provided to the Palestinian Authority, including the training of Palestinian police by Egypt, Jordan, and the European Union, enabling them to carry out their duties toward our people — especially in Gaza — in accordance with the highest international standards. We affirm the need to empower the Authority and remove all obstacles intended to prevent it from performing its natural role in serving our people, particularly in these difficult circumstances.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The State of Palestine welcomed the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump and the successful mediation efforts undertaken by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States to achieve and stabilize a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, secure the release of hostages and prisoners, and ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid.
We renew our welcome of President Trump’s peace plan, adopted by the UN Security Council Resolution 2803, stressing the necessity of a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, moving toward reconstruction and the assumption by the State of Palestine of full administrative and security responsibilities in Gaza, as well as ensuring that all institutions and authorities in Gaza are linked to the Palestinian Authority and State institutions, including the crossings, and implementing the vision of one State, one Government, one Law, and one Gun.
We affirm here that Gaza is an integral part of the State of Palestine, and that its unity with the West Bank and East Jerusalem is an absolute and non-negotiable right. All arrangements during the transitional period must be consistent with the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and with the unity and integrity of their territories.
Palestine will work with the United States and regional and international partners to establish a permanent ceasefire and launch a political process that ends the occupation and leads to a just and comprehensive peace guaranteeing security, stability, and prosperity for all countries in the region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The State of Palestine rejects the statements and positions issued by senior officials in the extremist Israeli government, which promote racism, oppression, and hatred, and explicitly reject international legitimacy and the independence of the State of Palestine. These positions entrench settlement expansion, annexation, and undermine of the two-State solution, in a clear violation of international law and Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242, 338, and 2334, as well as the national rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination.
Settlement practices, settler violence, home demolitions, land confiscation, repeated raids on Palestinian cities, the continued withholding of Palestinian funds, strangling the Palestinian economy, and undermining Palestinian institutions — all of which are unilateral illegal steps that undermine the prospects for peace. This requires the UN and member states to assume their responsibilities in stopping these practices, ensuring compliance with international law, and providing protection for the Palestinian people.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we extend, on behalf of our people, our deepest appreciation to the millions of free people around the world who took part in peaceful million-strong demonstrations, expressing their humanitarian solidarity, demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza, rejecting policies of oppression, and calling respect for international law. The voices of the peoples in world capitals stand as a testament that the human conscience is still alive and that justice cannot be defeated, no matter how long it takes.
Despite all that we endure under occupation, the State of Palestine affirms its full commitment to implementing all the reforms it has pledged to undertake to strengthen a free, independent, democratic Palestinian state committed to the culture of peace and dialogue.
A just peace based on international legitimacy has become a regional and international necessity. The only path to achieving it is to completely end the occupation, the embodiment of the independence of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the achievement of a just and agreed-upon solution to the refugee question in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 194, the cessation of all illegal unilateral measures, ensuring international accountability, and enabling the State of Palestine to obtain full UN membership.
In conclusion, we say to our Palestinian people in the homeland, in refugee camps, and in the diaspora: Your steadfastness and adherence to your inalienable rights are the foundation for the continuation of your just cause.
The path to freedom is closer than ever. The independence of the State of Palestine will be realized through your will, and with the support of the international community, as well as with the legitimacy that no one can take away, no matter how long it takes.
Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.
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M.N
