Palestinian leader criticizes US government, thanks American people during UN speech

President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas sharply criticized the United States government at the United Nations General Assembly Thursday, pointing to U.S. vetoes of Security Council cease-fire resolutions.

Abbas’ speech highlighted the growing isolation of the U.S. and Israel on the world stage and denounced the U.S. government for wielding its veto power to vote down Security Council resolutions calling for a cease-fire to Israel's war in Gaza. Earlier this year, the U.S. was the lone “No” vote on a resolution to grant Palestine full membership to the U.N.

“We regret that the U.S. administration, the largest democracy in the world, obstructed three times [a] draft resolution to the Security Council demanding Israel observe a cease-fire,” Abbas said before the General Assembly.

Abbas criticized U.S. military aid to Israel and called on the international community to impose sanctions, while thanking the vast majority of member states for supporting its bid to become a full member of the U.N.

“The American people are marching in the streets, in these demonstrations, and we are grateful to them,” Abbas said.

He called for political and financial support for the U.N.'s humanitarian aid agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and other aid organizations. At least 220 UNRWA workers, mostly Palestinians, have been killed since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack against Israel — the highest death toll of any conflict or natural disaster where the U.N. has worked.

Israel has alleged that UNRWA has been infiltrated by Hamas, claiming some of its workers participated in the Oct. 7 attack. While two separate U.N. investigations have not substantiated those claims, nine staffers were sacked after an investigation found they “may have” been involved.

Many countries withdrew funding from UNRWA in the wake of the accusations, but have since restored funding the agency. The U.S., however, has frozen its funding until at least March 2025.

Abbas also outlined his vision for a post-war Gaza, including Palestinian Authority control.

“The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people in Gaza and the West Bank,” he said.