Screengrab from Abbas' speech on Sept. 24, 2026 (Credit: UN)
Palestine's president calls for non-militarized Palestinian state
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas opened his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly by denouncing US measures that prevented Palestinian officials from attending the session in person.
“We reject these punitive measures and the accusations and justifications on which they were based,” Abbas said.
He said preventing the Palestinian delegation from attending the General Assembly in person contradicts the United States’ obligations as the host country of the United Nations.
Abbas also addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip, saying Palestinians are facing killing, destruction and starvation.
The United States denied visas to Palestinian Authority officials ahead of this year’s UN General Assembly, preventing them from traveling to New York for the high-level debate.
"non-militarized state"
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Palestine seeks to establish a democratic, non-militarized state that respects the rule of law and human rights.
“We seek a democratic Palestinian state that respects the rule of law and human rights,” Abbas said, emphasizing twice that it would be “a non-militarized state” living “in security and peace alongside the state of Israel.”
‘Israeli’ online response
As Abbas delivered his address, ‘Israel’s’ official communication channels took to social media to push back against his remarks in real-time.
‘Israel’s’ primary official X account (@Israel) posted a drinking game commentary during Abbas’s speech, writing, "For every lie Mahmoud Abbas tells at the @UN, we're doing a shot... Only a few minutes in and we're already drunk" alongside a screenshot of Abbas addressing the delegation.
For every lie Mahmoud Abbas tells at the @UN, we're doing a shot. 🥃
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) September 24, 2026
Only a few minutes in and we're already drunk. pic.twitter.com/js9JxJi4X3
Simultaneously, the ‘Israel’ Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) published a targeted criticism focused on the Palestinian Authority’s stipend policies for the families of detainees, claiming that Abbas "incites Palestinian terrorism through Pay-for-Slay" and alleging that hundreds of millions of dollars are directed into these funds annually.
Mahmoud Abbas preaches to the @UN, but incites Palestinian terrorism through Pay-for-Slay.
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) September 24, 2026
The Palestinian Authority is paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year to terrorists and their families.
The more blood spilled - the greater the reward. .
Mahmoud Abbas rewards… pic.twitter.com/ScMF5lLAxa
